With many machines equipped with the latest technology to help maximise productivity, what’s the best way of making sure you can take full advantage of this?
That’s a great question. Earthmoving Equipment Magazine caught up with Trimble APAC region sales application manager Grant Morgan to discuss the subject.
Here are five factors he said business should consider:
(1) How much impact does upfront digital planning and design validation have on productivity once machines start moving dirt? How does in-field design help?
Technology essentially turns the machines into 3D printers. But it is ‘garbage-in, garbage-out’, so design prep is something contractors should really invest in.
“Make sure you are provided the best data possible. The cost is worth it: a few hundred dollars up front can save thousands in the long run by preventing bad data,” Grant said.
“In-field design is such a handy tool for tying back into designs or even just building your own.
“With a little training, I see regional councils doing road and flood rehabilitation just by using in-field designs on the machines, and the roads are looking amazing.”
(2) What are the biggest mistakes contractors make when it comes to under-utilising or misusing machine control technology?
“Not keeping up with training is a big one,” Grant said.
“Businesses should keep up to date on new enhancements they could be utilising, while always updating firmware and software, so that the latest system features are available.”
(3) With operator skill levels varying widely, what tools or workflows can help standardise productivity across the crew?
Grant said there was no doubt that automation is and will be important.
“For example, most dozers and graders are now equipped with automatic blade control, which is the norm these days, and massively boosts productivity and reduces fatigue,” he said.
“A newer feature is excavator automatics, which can essentially turn a novice operator into a final trim operator. They still need to know how to move dirt, but can now make grade with far less fatigue.”
(4) How does improving the connection between field crews and the office drive better decision-making and keep projects on schedule?
Grant said that data flow to and from the office to the field is a major help in decision-making.
“This allows contractors to see issues before they occur, or react quickly and keep things moving,” he said.
(5) What technology or workflows best support coordination between surveyors, operators, foremen, and project managers to avoid bottlenecks?
If you’re in the market for a perfect suite of connected workflow tools, look no further than global technology leader Trimble.
“Trimble products include WorksManager and WorksOS, designed to facilitate seamless collaboration among all construction crew members, from surveyors and foremen to site managers, operators, and even end clients,” Grant said.
“These tools enable the collective sharing of near real-time data and information, encompassing as-built data from machines or drones, design updates and revisions, and final QA/QC data.”
More information: https://heavyindustry.trimble.com/
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