Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/513927
AGGREGATES MANAGER May 2015 26 A ggregates operations are all about production. Everything relates to how quickly (and safely) over- burden can be stripped, and the material below be recovered and processed. Speed has a big effect on production costs, as does general equipment owning and operating costs. Labor effi ciency also plays a role. This article looks at ways that aggregate producers can keep the total cost of owner- ship for their equipment down and maximize profi ts on production. Cutting down on idle time with telematics Telematics provides a lot of data — what you do with that data is what gives you an advantage. One of the more simple pieces of data is engine idle time. Engines aren't built to idle — it is a cause of unnecessary wear to the engine and its related components, and a complete waste of fuel. Engine idling most often signifi es one of two things. The fi rst is simple operator inactivity, which can be addressed/corrected through coaching. The second is… Right-sizing equipment/ workfl ow synchronization Idle time can also be a symptom of equip- ment that is not optimally matched to the ap- plication. A wheel loader with a 6-cubic-yard bucket may be matched with a hopper that can't handle that much material at once. That loader may be completing a simple cycle and then sitting and waiting for the material to cycle through before it can dump the next bucket. This idling is not an effi cient use of the machine and may indicate any number of possible improvements to the operation. It's all about production — and production is more prof- itable when equipment owning and operating costs are kept down with these eight guidelines. by Brad Stemper Controlling Equipment Ownership Costs Educating operators and maintenance personnel on Tier 4 engine requirements will help ensure machines are operated efficiently while achieving the greatest amount of productivity.