RICHMOND, VA –
On any given day, you will find Bryan Broughton, door mechanic, Defense Logistics Agency Installation Operations Richmond, Installation Management Division, out and about inspecting roll down doors in warehouses and bays on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
A daunting task, according to Broughton, considering there are roughly 763 of these doors.
“Fifty percent of the time, I’m doing inspections on fire protection doors and the other 50 percent of the time, I’m doing inspections on non-fire protection doors,” he said.
Conducting these inspections and risk assessments previously involved a great deal of paperwork. That was until he and others within his division were issued compact computer tablets.
“Before, I would go around with a notebook and write down all the information; serial number, door size, if it’s powered, what company made the door and its fire rating.”
Broughton said he would then have to make it back to his desk and input all that information into a database using his desktop computer. Now he has the ability to capture data, download technical manuals and, research topics such as code infractions while still in the field.
“Instead of having a binder full of paperwork, I have a database at the click of a button,” he said.
Glenn Cooper, chief of the Installation Maintenance Branch, says the division began issuing the tablets a little more than eight months ago.
“Bottom line is we are trying to use the tablet to get rid of all the paper to make it a more efficient operation, with information being more accessible,” he said.
Phillip Fitz, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning controls mechanic, DLA Installation Operations, Installation Management Division, works with the installation fire department to test fire suppression systems, fire alarms and smoke detectors, ensuring installation air condition systems are in sync with fire detection systems.
He echoes both Cooper and Broughton.
“Now with the tablet, I’m able to cut out all the paperwork and the chance I could make a mistake. I can type in the information on the spot, neatly and correctly,” he said.