Q1 – Which type of locations can exist in a hierarchy or a network?

Answer – OPERATING 

There are several location types but only one can exist in a hierarchy or a network system and that is a location of type OPERATING. There are several tables associated with locations and how they are built into hierarchies and networks, they are LOCATIONS, LOCOPER, LOCHIERARCHY and LOCANCESTOR. The LOCOPER table holds important fields like calendar, priority, failure class and the reference to a rotating item, these are only relevant to operating locations.

Q2 – There are eight location types. Only one of the four options below has four of the recognised location types. Which one?

• A – SALVAGE, RECEIVING, VENDOR, OPERATING
• B – REPAIR, HOLDING, COURIER, LABOR
• C – OPERATING, STOREROOM, SUPPLIER, SCRAP
• D – STOREROOM, LABOR, COURIER, WAREHOUSE

Answer – B – REPAIR, HOLDING, COURIER, LABOR

• C is likely to be incorrect, SCRAP doesn’t sound right, SUPPLIER is also incorrect, neither are terms used across Maximo.
• D – WAREHOUSE is not a term used by Maximo
• A – SALVAGE, VENDOR and OPERATING are all correct. A HOLDING location is used in the Receiving processes but RECEIVING is not a location type.

Q3 – One location type can only exist once per site, what is it called?

Answer – HOLDING

The HOLDING location is used in the Receiving processes, it holds stock while it is being inspected, or during the period when assets are being serialised before they update the balances of a storeroom.

Q4 – Locations of which type would be used for refurbishing, overhauling, or repairing assets?

• A – REPAIR, SALVAGE
• B – SALVAGE, LABOR
• C – VENDOR, LABOR
• D – VENDOR, REPAIR

Answer – D – VENDOR, REPAIR

A Labor could be used to make a repair, but it is not a location type where you would move an asset to make the repair. REPAIR is for internal repair workshops; VENDOR is used for external repairs. SALVAGE is used at end of asset life. A COURIER may be used to move an asset to a VENDOR repair or overhaul workshop.

Q5 – Locations of type STOREROOM can hold Inventory. There are two other location types which can also hold Inventory, what are they?

• A – VENDOR, COURIER
• B – SALVAGE, LABOR
• C – COURIER, LABOR
• D – SALVAGE, REPAIR

Answer – C – COURIER, LABOR

COURIER and LABOR type locations are sometimes known as transit locations used in the movement of items from one storeroom to another. LABOR type locations can also be used to keep a record of the inventory in a technician’s van.

Q6 – Which of the following statements is true?

• A – An operating location can only exist in the same site as its parent.
• B – An operating location can exist in any site that is in the organization of its parent.
• C – Operating locations can have as many user-defined relationships with other operating locations whether they exist in the same site or not.
• D – Operating locations do not exist in a site, they are just an attribute of an asset, it is the assets that exist in hierarchies.

Answer – A – An operating location can only exist in the same site as its parent.

Assets and Locations are Site level objects. Operating Locations can only belong in site-based hierarchies and networks, and cannot have a parent in a different site, or organization. User-defined relationships do exist for assets but not locations.

Q7 – Which statement is true?

• A – Operating locations can only exist in one hierarchy, the Primary hierarchy
• B – Operating locations can exist in one hierarchy but multiple networks
• C – Operating locations can exist in multiple hierarchies but one network
• D – Operating locations can exist in multiple hierarchies and multiple networks

Answer – D – Operating locations can exist in multiple hierarchies and multiple networks

An operating location can have multiple parent locations whether they exist in a hierarchy or a network. A network is where a location has multiple parents in the same location system.

Q8 – Can I perform work on an operating location which has no assets referenced by Maximo?

Answer – Yes

You can perform work on a location, a location and an asset, and an asset with no referenced location. An asset does not need to exist in a location, but it often does. You can also have a work order with no location or asset, but this would be rare.

Q9 – Which is used for Data Separation?

• A – Set
• B – Organization
• C – Site
• D – System

Answer – C – Site

An Organization is for data sharing, and a Site is for data separation. If data exists at the System level or Set level, then like Organization the data is being shared across multiple sites. Locations, Assets, Work Orders and Storerooms/Inventory all exist at the Site level.

Q10 – What are the three things unique to an asset that cannot be achieved with a location?

Answer – An asset can exist in a storeroom. Assets can be generated from a template. An asset has a serial number and tag number.

This is an example of a poor question because there could be many other possible correct answers, for example assets can be of type linear, assets can have user defined relationships. There are though many similarities between operating locations and assets and trying to decide what is a location and what is an asset can sometimes be quite difficult.