Measure, Compare, Improve
Effective Fleet Service Programs Start With Crunching the Numbers
By Seth Skydel
It sounds simple enough: If you ask the right question, you get the right answer. For utility fleets, according to Lanelle Duke, VP of product at industry benchmarking company Utilimarc, the best maintenance and repair metrics provide context.
“ You might think your fleet is performing well, but without peer benchmarks it’ s hard to know for sure,” said Duke.
“ When you compare your performance to similar fleets, you may find you’ re ahead in some areas but falling short in others. That’ s where data-driven insights become powerful.”
Asking the right questions is only part of the equation. According to Paul Milner, VP of operations at Utilimarc, highquality, accurate data is just as critical.“ Data can be a barrier to analytics,” Milner explained.
“ If your datasets aren’ t reliable, they can’ t be used to generate insights or deliver true business value.”
A key issue, he explained, is the continued use of outdated or disconnected systems for tracking maintenance and repair activity.“ When data lives in silos or is captured inconsistently, errors creep in and those errors undermine trust in the entire dataset,” Milner said.“ Accurate reporting starts with consistent, dependable data.”
Milner emphasized that data quality begins with integration.“ Bringing all your data sources under one roof makes it much easier to manage,” he said.“ For larger fleets with a wide variety of assets, this level of centralization isn’ t just helpful, it’ s essential.”
With systems unified, the next step is validation.“ You need confidence that what you’ re looking at reflects reality,” Milner added.“ Crossreferencing data points can quickly flag inconsistencies, while simple checks and test metrics help ensure accurate entry at the source.”
Utilimarc’ s approach to benchmarking enables utility fleets to assess their maintenance and repair costs in a highly granular way while also comparing against broader industry averages.
www. contractorshotline. com July 4, 2025 11