Rugged, wireless handheld devices are increasingly being used for diagnostics and maintenance applications in manufacturing, and as an additional tool to help keep production assets running at peak performance.

To learn more about this trend, Automation World Managing Editor Wes Iversen spoke recently with Julie Fraser, principal at Industry Directions Inc., a Cummaquid, Mass., market research and consulting firm.

During the interview, Fraser discusses the use of KPIs, or key performance indicators, and the benefits of KPI delivery via mobile devices, using tools such as Visual KPI software from Transpara Corp., a Pleasanton, Calif.-based vendor. Other tools include the mobility software suites that are available today for use with popular computerized maintenance management systems, such as Maximo.

Technology that provides mobile access to information by key decision-makers at all levels of a company can lead to improved productivity and increased asset uptime, Fraser points out. But a lack of awareness by end-users may still be slowing down the use of this technology.