I have a colleague that goes mountain biking in the desert. The other day he told me that given the choice between a map and a GPS, he would take the map. When considering GPS, he had some pretty obvious concerns regarding weight, durability and power requirements. But beyond those issues, his choice was based on his belief that a map has more information than a GPS, and that a map provides more context and range than a GPS. My friend is not old-fashioned; far from it, he is an early adopter of most technology. That's what makes his reliance on paper documents so curious.

This approach is not unique. Equipment OEMs, dealers and owner/operators are still tenaciously hanging on to their paper parts catalogs and maintenance manuals. Eliminating paper from the maintenance process is difficult because, like maps, even when paper documents are out-of-date they still provide a little bit of guidance. Like my friend who rides his bike into the wilderness, these companies are afraid of getting lost—except in their case the risk is lost revenue.

Let's see how else my colleague's analogy applies.
1) Does a paper map contain more information than a GPS? It depends. Paper maps have been specifically designed to pack the maximum amount of information into the minimum space. However, this information density also makes them quickly go out-of-date. If you are travelling in the wilderness, where things don't change real fast, an old map may work just fine. If however, you are trying to navigate the streets of Boston during construction season, you may need daily (or even hourly) updates.

How does this apply to maintenance? When told about plans to move to Enigma the most common question from dealers is, will the data be more accurate? (The answer is, yes.) The dealer's concern is not about the format of information but about its accuracy. With all the service bulletins, engineering changes and part modifications being issued by OEMs, if the electronic maintenance environment is not accurate then a dealer is better off swimming in a sea of paper.

(As an aside, the dealers' question is somewhat amusing because most of them already have some electronic data from the OEM or a 3rd party. Yet dealers still worry about accuracy. If dealers don't receive instant updates their mechanics will always have concerns.)

2) Does a map provide more context and range than a GPS? It all depends on the GPS. As previously stated, a map packs a lot of data into a single document. A GPS is meant to remove clutter, and focus the user on one thing at a time. The question is therefore, how much data is in the GPS? Certainly a handheld GPS is no match for the electronic navigation systems in today's cars, which in turn are no match for the multi-function devices and primary flight displays in modern aircraft.  While my friend prefers a map, you would be hard-pressed to find a pilot that will sacrifice his GPS in favor of a paper sectional (map).

How does this apply to maintenance? Just like an airplane GPS, a modern electronic parts catalog includes far more than parts. It includes maintenance manuals, troubleshooting guides, service bulletins...anything related to keeping a machine up-and-running. This abundance of data is the equivalent of what my friend calls "context and range"—the ability to see the big picture from a small screen. This is critically important when mechanics encounter an unexpected, or non-routine, maintenance requirement—which happens more than 30% of the time. In such a circumstance, mechanics need access to any and all relevant data. It's the only way they can minimize downtime.

So what's the conclusion, paper maps or GPS? If you're going into the desert, a map will do just fine. If you're travelling in the city, a GPS is a better choice. And for anyone that works in the ever-changing aftermarket, go for the electronic parts catalog (EPC); it's the easiest way to increase performance of service and parts operations. Of course there is one area where a map beats a GPS. When you're cold in the desert, you can always get warm by burning your map. (But please recycle your maintenance manuals, all that paper would make for a dangerous fire.)