Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/268384
e Whys and Hows of Simulator Training OPERAT S imulators aren't new to the industry, but many companies don't understand the cu ing edge training they off er for heavy equipment operators. Simula- tors are easy to use, cost eff ective, and allow operators to be well trained and comfortable before being placed in the cab of an expensive piece of equip- ment. ey combine technology and operator instruction with rich graphics and realistic controls to help operators feel like they are in the actual machine, allowing them to become familiar with and memorize the machine's essential operating techniques. "I think simulators are important for the overall training experience," says Tom Whitworth, an account manager for Simformotion LLC, the licensee for Cat Simulators for Caterpillar Inc. "A simulator provides training in a virtual environment. It keeps the operator and other ground personnel out of the equation and out of harm's way." Training exercises on the simulator are measured and recorded for each operator's simulator sessions. at way, the operator can see how well he/she performed. An instructor can check the results to determine if there are areas of ineffi ciency that need further instruction and additional training time. "We use our simulators almost every day here," says Danny Turner, training and development coordinator at Aecon Mining in Alberta, Canada. "In the last four months, we've had 250 trainees go through our training center." e use of simulators allows opera- tors to make mistakes without endan- gering themselves or the equipment. is is huge. No one wants to put a greenhorn behind the wheel of a haul truck or at the controls of a loader, excavator, or other expensive machine without knowing he/she can operate it correctly. "If you make a mistake on a simula- tor, it's be er than making one on a machine," Whitworth says. "A trainer can immediately explain to the operator what he did wrong, give him instruc- tions on how to do it correctly, and allow the operator to practice until he has mastered the operation." One of the biggest benefi ts that simulators off er is the ability to track and keep records of each operator's performance. "We can track time, us- age, the speed at which the operator is going, and even how much material the operator is actually pu ing through," Whitworth says. " en you get a report of that operator that you can save to track performance throughout training." Simulators also allow quarries to continue producing aggregate while op- erators are being instructed in the train- ing room. No unnecessary equipment downtime is required. is is especially important when training someone to load a haul truck, which requires the use of more than one piece of equipment at the same time. AGGREGATES MANAGER Simulator training increases the safety of man and machine by allowing equipment operators to train in the safety of a classroom. Operators can learn how to safely operate a piece of machinery, become familiar with the controls, and perfect diffi cult exercises be- fore actually getting into the equipment, therefore, doing away with the risk of accident and/or injury to the operator or the machine. Training on a piece of equipment takes that machine out of production for the period of time necessary to ensure the opera- tor can effi ciently operate the machine. If multiple operators are being trained at the same time, it means multiple pieces of equipment will have to be taken out of the production cycle. Training an operator on a simulator leaves the equipment free to continue producing, loading, or moving aggregate. 1 Increased safety 4 Increased production