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All photos provided by Vermeer "The success of any equipment fleet management process is dependent on establishing a realistic equipment replacement plan," said Patterson. "It's important for tree care service providers to avoid a situation where the cost of certain repairs reaches the point that, in conjunction with the age of the chipper, may actually cost them more in the long run. Delaying the retirement of a well-used model in lieu of investing in new equipment purchases as a cost-savings measure can often have the opposite result. Machines will reach the point where repair costs will outweigh the payments associated with a new equipment purchase." Jonathan McNeil, director of operations for Arborguard, based in Atlanta, Ga., echoed that theme."Obviously, as a machine gets older, repairing and maintaining the main operational components of a machine will become more costly than the value of the equipment," he said."There comes a point when the cost for repairs will compromise operational efficiency to the extent that keeping older chippers in operation becomes more expensive than what it would cost in payments for a new model. There's really no formula or time frame or specific age of the chipper. It has more to do with how many hours the machine has been in operation, and how hard the chipper has been worked along the way." Founded in 1981,Arborguard provides a wide variety of traditional and innovative services for a wide range of commercial and residential tree care applications including trimming,pruning,tree removal,emergency storm services, tree preservation programs and tree risk assessment. Matching chipper model capacity with the type of services identified in the company's long-range business plan objectives is also an important component of Arborguard's equipment fleet management process. "Pairing the right chipper with the capacity engineered to process different size and mass of raw material most efficiently is one of the most effective equipment fleet management tools," said Patterson."If a chipper is subjected to material that is beyond its capacity, the machine won't operate efficiently — a situation that is likely to accelerate aging and wear, requiring tree care service providers to replace equipment more often. "On the other hand, a chipper with capacity greater than is necessary to process material of smaller size will result in increasing operational costs — most notably, in the form of additional fuel consumption." www.arborage.com The role of staff McNeil is continuously evaluating ways to manage equipment fleet utilization most effectively, a process that also involves staffing allocation and expertise. "We've found that assigning the same crew members to the same tasks and functions results in enhancing productivity," said McNeil."I group the guys with specific skill levels, abilities, likes/dislikes if you will, and match them to certain functions.Then I match equipment with specific tasks to maximize efficiency.Every member of our staff has acquired the knowledge and experience that qualify them to perform more than 90 percent of the jobs we complete. Most crew members are assigned to the same task using the same equipment every day; an approach that also contributes to optimizing equipment fleet management and utilization. "Matching the same guys with the same equipment performing the same functions has worked very well for us," said McNeil."For instance, the guys that work primarily in commercial tree care applications are assigned smaller trucks and chippers, since these models are more efficient in processing material derived from commercial applications." Extending chipper life Adherence to a diligent service and maintenance schedule is an often overlooked component of helping maximize equipment fleet management and operational efficiency.To that end, McNeil is adamant about completing daily and periodic maintenance work as recommended by equipment manufacturers. "We have a maintenance agreement that ensures we follow a strict service rotation schedule. Reminders are automatically triggered, letting us know when various service functions should be performed," said McNeil."As a result, we're experiencing longer productive equipment lifespans, as well as more efficient and productive chipper operation.All these factors help contribute to our overall company bottom line." Randy R.Happel is a features writer with Two Rivers Marketing,Des Moines, Iowa. Article provided byVermeer, Pella, Iowa. Arbor Age / March 2013 17