User Story: Facility Types Management

1. Problem Statement

User Roles Identified:

Asset Manager: Responsible for managing facility infrastructure and planning facility-based maintenance strategies
Utility Administrator: Manages facility type configurations and maintains standardized facility classifications

Pain Points by User Role:

Asset Manager:

Inconsistent facility categorization across the utility leading to poor facility management and maintenance planning
Difficulty in tracking facility types and their operational purposes for strategic planning
Limited visibility into facility classifications needed for resource allocation and capacity planning
Manual processes for organizing different types of facilities without standardized descriptions
Inability to correlate facility types with operational requirements and regulatory compliance

Utility Administrator:

Time-consuming manual setup of facility type definitions without standardized templates
Lack of centralized management for facility type descriptions and classifications
Difficulty maintaining consistency in facility data structure across different operational areas
Complex process to add new facility types and update existing facility descriptions
Limited ability to customize facility classifications based on specific utility infrastructure

Core Problem:

Water utilities lack a standardized system for managing facility type definitions and descriptions, leading to inconsistent facility classification, poor infrastructure organization, and inefficient facility management across treatment plants, pumping stations, and administrative facilities.

2. Who Are the Users Facing the Problem?

Asset Manager

Oversees facility infrastructure management and strategic planning
Requires standardized facility types for effective facility management and maintenance planning
Needs consistent facility classifications for resource allocation and operational optimization

Utility Administrator

Manages system configuration and master data for facility types
Responsible for setting up and maintaining facility type definitions and descriptions
Ensures data consistency across all facility management systems

Both roles should have access to this feature with appropriate permission levels based on their facility management responsibilities.

3. Jobs To Be Done

For Asset Manager: When I need to organize and manage different types of utility facilities for strategic planning and maintenance optimization, But I lack standardized facility type definitions with proper descriptions that makes it difficult to categorize facilities and plan resource allocation effectively, Help me access a comprehensive facility type management system with standardized classifications and detailed descriptions, So that I can develop effective facility management strategies, optimize resource allocation, and maintain consistent facility organization.

For Utility Administrator: When I need to set up and maintain consistent facility type definitions across the utility, But I face time-consuming manual processes and lack of standardized templates for facility classification that create organizational inconsistencies, Help me configure facility types with easy customization options and centralized description management, So that I can ensure facility classification consistency, reduce setup time for new facility types, and maintain standardized facility organization.

4. Solution

The Facility Types Management system provides a comprehensive platform for organizing utility facilities with the following capability areas:

4.1 Facility Type Definition and Management

Pre-configured facility types for common water utility infrastructure (Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Water Pumping Station, etc.)
Custom facility type creation with detailed operational descriptions
Centralized management of facility classifications and descriptions

4.2 Facility Description Management

Detailed description fields for each facility type explaining operational purpose
Standardized description templates for common utility facility types
Custom description creation with comprehensive operational details

4.3 Facility Classification Organization

Organized list of facility types with expand/collapse functionality
Hierarchical display of facility information with descriptions
Easy access to facility type details and management functions

4.4 Search and Management Capabilities

Advanced search across facility types and descriptions
Quick access to facility type information and editing functions
Streamlined facility type creation and modification workflows

4.5 Standardization and Templates

Industry-standard facility type templates for water utilities
Standardized naming conventions and description formats
Best practice guidance for facility organization and classification

4.6 Integration and Data Management

Seamless integration with facility management and asset registry systems
Export capabilities for reporting and facility planning
Data validation and consistency checks across facility definitions

5. Major Steps Involved

Asset Manager Flow:

Access Facility Types Dashboard
- Navigate to Settings > Facility Types
- View existing facility type definitions and descriptions
- Review facility type organization and classification structure
Review Facility Classifications
- Expand facility types to view detailed descriptions
- Assess current facility type coverage and organization
- Identify gaps in facility classification structure
Analyze Facility Organization
- Review facility type descriptions for operational clarity
- Assess facility classification effectiveness for planning purposes
- Identify optimization opportunities in facility organization
Request Facility Type Modifications
- Identify needs for new facility types or description updates
- Submit requests for facility classification enhancements
- Provide operational requirements for facility type improvements
Validate Facility Management Effectiveness
- Review facility type utilization across the utility
- Assess facility classification effectiveness for strategic planning
- Recommend improvements for facility organization

Utility Administrator Flow:

System Configuration Access
- Log into SMART360 administrative interface
- Navigate to Settings > Facility Types
- Access facility type management dashboard
Create New Facility Type
- Click "Add Facility Type" button
- Enter facility type name and operational description
- Configure facility type settings and classifications
Manage Facility Descriptions
- Edit existing facility type descriptions
- Update facility type information as operational requirements change
- Ensure description accuracy and completeness
Configure Facility Classifications
- Set up facility type names with descriptive information
- Define facility operational purposes and characteristics
- Configure facility type organization and hierarchy
Validate and Test Configuration
- Review complete facility type structure
- Test facility type creation and modification workflows
- Validate integration with facility management systems

6. Flow Diagram

7. Business Rules

8. Sample Data

Facility Types and Descriptions:

Water Treatment Plant
├── Description: Facility that treats raw water to make it suitable for human consumption and meets drinking water quality standards.

Wastewater Treatment Plant
├── Description: Facility that processes and treats wastewater to remove contaminants before discharge or reuse.

Water Pumping Station
├── Description: Facility that houses pumps and equipment to move water through the distribution system or between treatment stages.

Wastewater Lift Station
├── Description: Facility that lifts wastewater from lower to higher elevations in the collection system using pumps.

Water Storage Facility (Tower/Reservoir)
├── Description: Facility that stores treated water for distribution, providing system pressure and emergency supply capacity.

Biosolids Management Facility
├── Description: Facility that processes, treats, and manages biosolids and sludge from wastewater treatment operations.

Administrative / Operations Center
├── Description: Facility that houses administrative offices, control rooms, and operational support functions for utility management.

Additional Facility Type Examples:

Chemical Storage Facility
├── Description: Facility that safely stores treatment chemicals, disinfectants, and other materials used in water and wastewater treatment processes.

Laboratory Facility
├── Description: Facility that conducts water quality testing, analysis, and regulatory compliance monitoring for treatment operations.

Maintenance Shop
├── Description: Facility that houses equipment maintenance, repair operations, and spare parts storage for utility infrastructure.

Remote Monitoring Station
├── Description: Facility that houses monitoring equipment, telemetry systems, and data collection devices for remote operations.

Emergency Response Center
├── Description: Facility that coordinates emergency response activities, crisis management, and disaster recovery operations.

9. Acceptance Criteria

The system must display a list of facility types with their descriptions
The system must allow creation of new facility types with name and description fields
The system must provide editing capabilities for existing facility type names and descriptions
The system must support deletion of facility types with proper validation
The system must validate that facility type names are unique across the system
The system must prevent deletion of facility types that have associated facilities
The system must provide search functionality across facility type names and descriptions
The system must support expand/collapse functionality for facility type details
The system must display facility type descriptions when expanded
The system must validate facility type name length (3-