An ounce of prevention...

[mrfixit51]

This subject is near and dear to my heart...

I don't know how many times I have preached this among my co-workers,, after a copier is correctly set up and functioning properly, a set of prints needs to be made to insure that you can restore a copier to functioning properly after some catastrophic event like hard drive failure, a Service Mode Clear, or operator finger pokus event. Under Additional Functions, Report Settings, network user data, fax user data, send user data, address books, also a p-print or label print of the adjustment settings in service mode.

These documents need to be maintained in order for an easy solution to just such a problem as listed here. Make it part of your service routine to insure that these printouts exist at every copier site. Then, when you have a problem, you can consult these to determine what is incorrectly set. This should be done not only on your own equipment, but at every other tech's accounts as well.

The butt you save someday, may be your own!!!

[OMD-227]

On all of our Sharp machines, once they are setup fully, they are "Device & Storage" Cloned. This saves 2 small .dat & .bin files on your USB stick or laptop, with full machine & user backup done in less than 30 seconds. We then dump these files onto a main PC in the office. Therefore if anything goes wrong in the following years, they can be quickly restored back to fully configured condition in another 30 seconds. Too easy brother! Its a great function, and well worth using if your machines support such a function.

[jonhiker]

Absolutely and could not agree with you more.

you said it all.

On a Ricoh, you can print out all of the data on an SMC report, and/or back up the NVRAM settings to an SD card and save the file.

[OMD-227]

I take it you were recently burned by this matter Mrfixit? You sound like a man scorned!

[teckat]

As a Color Troubleshooter, I preach that everyday , keep your machine data records with the printer/with the customer/with the key op/with their IT person/ also keep a note somewhere on printer to advise other techs where those data print outs are, in case machine copy disappears/

All techs need to learn how to use SST /Firmware & if Available the USB Firmware on a memory stick to use on your models that accept it/ there is no excuse nowadays with all the support that is out there.

[teckat]

This subject is near and dear to my heart...

I don't know how many times I have preached this among my co-workers,, after a copier is correctly set up and functioning properly, a set of prints needs to be made to insure that you can restore a copier to functioning properly after some catastrophic event like hard drive failure, a Service Mode Clear, or operator finger pokus event. Under Additional Functions, Report Settings, network user data, fax user data, send user data, address books, also a p-print or label print of the adjustment settings in service mode.

These documents need to be maintained in order for an easy solution to just such a problem as listed here. Make it part of your service routine to insure that these printouts exist at every copier site. Then, when you have a problem, you can consult these to determine what is incorrectly set. This should be done not only on your own equipment, but at every other tech's accounts as well.

The butt you save someday, may be your own!!!

I couldn't have said it any better/ all posters need to read this/techs with experience,and those just starting out.

KEEP YOUR RECORDS STRAIGHT !!!!!!!

62358..jpg

[nmfaxman]

Also resetting jam and service code counts at each call will save your butt.
How many time have you had the call " It jams all the time!".
30 seconds of time will save hours of misery.

[SCREWTAPE]

Well said Mrfixit.

[OMD-227]

While we're on the subject of time/butt saving, I'm the worlds biggest fan of Job History Cards on the back of the machine. I dont know about you guys, but I hate going to calls with little info of what has previously happened. I do have the ability to log into the history of calls through the laptop in the car, but I'm not carrying that with me every single call. If I can have a quick look through WHO has done WHAT, I can assess what needs to be done quicker, as well as have a history of the last few calls, incase I get the client going off their brain about jamming or C/Q issues. This is a big saver when you can point out that the client has previously been trained several times now on not using inkjet labels or transparencies in their color copier!!! Its a great backup, when you have another tech, or myself writing down what happened, who was trained and what was done.

I also leave a copy of either a testchart or self test print included with the history card, so the next tech can see that it was working when I left it, and also as a comparision to how it is working now, when they are onsite.

Damn I love paperwork.

[KenB]

Speaking of color...

For color critical customers, we work with the customer to create a benchmark file, so that it can be used as a test when they have color issues.

The file is something that the customer would "normally" print, almost always saved as a .pdf file. Normally it's only one page, sometimes several; it all depends on the customer.

We have the customer sign off on the print when it is acceptable, and we keep a copy of "what good looks like" with the machine. The regular tech has a copy of the file with him, as well as the key operator. On most of the newer Fiery RIPs we keep a copy on the desktop of the Fiery, and one in the hold queue.

This way, when the customer complains about color, we have a real target to hit, rather than depending on memory, or what the manufacturer feels is right.

We also keep a backup of any custom profiles and workflows, as well as any spot color dictionaries.

[mrfixit51]

I take it you were recently burned by this matter Mrfixit? You sound like a man scorned!

Not recently, but repeatedly, I have been asked to resolve a problem, with zero documentation. I have coworkers who find themselves too busy I guess to fully document the copiers "personality".

I too, am fairly anal about service records. I too can look up information online, but every time that method would be used is going to eat up another 15 minutes out of my day, per occurrence. I have better things to do. It takes about 2 minutes to fill out a service history report, that is a real time savings in the long run. If I work in my own territory, I can pretty well remember what has been going down, but walk into another and I am in the dark without that written record...

Prepare for a worst case scenario and you will probably avoid it, don't prepare, and I can predict that at some point it will jump up and "byte" you

[teckat]

As a Senior Tech, I request and enforce that all machine Service Logs and Data Spec sheets to be put in Plastic sheet protectors. Even though they all input service visits/& work/parts used info to our phone/blackberry Machine Management Service provider . In the big city, cell service stinks. Paper work never needs working cell bars.

[D_L_P]

A benchmark color copy, good tip Ken! I'm going to start doing this.
I have always kept a config sheet or user data list with each copier. I'll have to start keeping the rest of the reports in additional functions and service mode too.
Sometimes I get a little lax, thanks for the reminder MrFixit.