Equipment Classes

Pgm: EMCLASS – Equipment Classes; standard Treeview path: Equipment Costing > Setup > Local Tables > Equipment Classes

Equipment classes are mandatory when entering equipment. Classes are used for setting up a group for specific reporting and charge-out rates.

Code

Enter a user-defined code to be used in a reporting group.

Name

Enter a description or name to be associated with the code.

Controlling Class

Enter a controlling class, if applicable. A hierarchy may be used. Tasks assigned to the controlling class may be inherited by items of this class dependent on the ‘Inherit’ checkbox. Only two levels of hierarchy are allowed (Controlling Class -> Sub-Class).

If the System Options ‘Restrict Sub Class Only on Equipment’ checkbox is checked (standard Treeview path: System > Setup > System Options – Assets tab), when a class has been entered in the Class field for a piece of equipment on the Equipment Maintenance screen, then that same class can’t be entered as a controlling class in the Controlling Class field on the Equipment Classes screen. Following that same logic, if a class is entered as a controlling class in the Equipment Classes screen, that same class can’t be entered as a class for a piece of equipment in the Equipment Maintenance screen.

Inherit – Checkbox

Checking this box will force the tasks assigned in the control class to be assigned to items in this class. Accumulators will also be inherited as defined for the controlling class.

Cost Code, Cost Code Name

Cost code is assigned to the class. When the equipment using this class is entered, the job must have the cost code assigned.

Trade, Trade Name

The trade code is used by the Crew Timesheet Entry application. If the equipment is assigned to an employee and the pay rate for the trade is higher than the employee trade rate of pay, the trade assigned in Crewtime will change to that of the equipment and the employee will receive the higher pay rate. However, if the pay rate of the trade assigned to the equipment is lower than the employee trade rate, the trade rate will not change and the employee will receive his/her normal trade pay rate.

Payroll Pay Rate Codes (Normal, Overtime, Double OT, Other)

The Payroll pay rate code fields become enabled after a trade is selected. Payroll pay rate codes are defined on the Rate Code Details screen (standard Treeview path: US Payroll > Setup > Local Tables > Rate Codes). These codes are used by both the Crew and Timesheet Entry to determine if the premium per hour from Payroll assigned to the equipment class should be paid when the equipment is assigned to the employee. This will work in conjunction with the system options preferred rate determining if this will be for unionized employees only or both unionized and trade personnel.

Truck Class and Name, MOB Rate

These fields apply only to customers using the Dispatch module, which has been deprecated.

Available in RP

The Available in RP checkbox does not display by default. The Resource Planning license must be active, then this column can be added to the Equipment Classes table by clicking on the View button on the block toolbar, selecting the "Columns" option in the drop-down menu, and checking the "Available in RP" option to enable the column.

When checked, the equipment class being defined will be available for selection in the Resource Planning module.

Exclude Discounts, Exclude from Billing Replacement Value, and Exclude from Value Cap

These checkboxes are used in conjunction with the standard auto-charge functionality when billing rates are used in the Equipment Costing module.

When these boxes are checked on the Equipment Classes screen for a specific class of equipment, when a new piece of equipment is created in the Equipment Maintenance screen, and this particular class is assigned to the equipment, these settings will default to the Billing Cap – Tab for that equipment.

[Accumulator] – Button

Pop-up window launched from the [Accumulator] button on the Equipment Classes screen

The [Accumulator] button is used in conjunction with the Preventative Maintenance module (standard Treeview path: Preventative Maintenance > Accumulators). If the Preventive Maintenance module is not being used, this button can be ignored. Otherwise, accumulators can be entered at initial setup or left for entry at a later time.

Accumulators are used to track usage of equipment so that maintenance can be scheduled based on usage. For example, to schedule maintenance on an automobile every 20,000 miles, an accumulator would need to be defined for the automobile’s mileage on a periodic basis. Once set, responsibility will need to be assigned for the duty of manually updating the value of this accumulator with the automobile’s latest odometer reading.

Enter/select accumulator code(s) for the equipment class being defined.  The ‘Auto-Update Meter Reading’ checkbox is available for hourly accumulators.  It specifies whether the meter readings for the piece of equipment will be updated at the time of equipment and payroll posting.  If checked, the meter reading will automatically be updated when the accumulator WM code matches the transaction WM code. If left unchecked, the accumulator will not automatically update. The check will automatically default to the accumulator assigned to the equipment in the Preventive Maintenance module.

[Template] – Button

Pop-up window launched from [Template] button on the Equipment Classes screen

Clicking on the [Template] button launches a pop-up window where the user can create templates to simplify setting up an equipment item. Many transaction codes can be associated to a category via a template.

Use the [Apply To All Equipment In Class] button to apply the template to all equipment in a specified class.

For more information, see Templates .