White paper addresses issues in fleet service bays

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Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., manufacturer of Toughbook mobile computers, has released a white paper, “The Role of Rugged Mobile Computing in Overhaul, Service & Maintenance Operations,” which explores the strategic, operational and technological issues that are addressed by rugged mobile solutions for maintenance and service managers.

The full report can be downloaded from the Transportation section of the Panasonic Toughbook website. The company says the service bay issues addressed in the white paper are relevant to the commercial transportation, aviation and consumer automotive service markets.

The white paper, produced by Larstan Business Reports, incorporates commentary from Snap-on Diagnostics, Panasonic and others, and looks at how Volvo, Harley-Davidson and Toyota have leveraged technology to improve service bay experience.

To support the notion of a service bay crisis, the white paper reveals a number of interesting statistics, according to Panasonic:

  • Even though the number of automobiles and light trucks on the road rose to more than 39 million between 1996 and 2006, the number of service bays available to maintain and repair them has declined by 44,000 during the same time period;
  • There were 166 light vehicles in the United States for every service bay in 2000. Three years later, that number had jumped to almost 180; and
  • By 2006, the number of vehicles per service bay stood at more than 190 and is projected to grow to about 200 per bay by 2008.