There is one business maxim that is pretty much universal: the more you spend, the less you make. Many businesses focus on chasing top-line revenue but do not spend enough time on making their operations more efficient and thereby spend less. Efficiency in the earthmoving business comes in numerous shapes and forms. Are you eliminating unnecessary waste? Are your operators operating your machines in the most efficient manner? Asking and answering these kinds of questions can save you considerable cash over the medium to long term and can help you make more money. In addition, by having more money at your disposal, you also open yourself up to new business opportunities.
In this blog, I have highlighted four ways in which you can successfully lower operating costs in your earthmoving business.
1. Make sure you have the right tyres for the job.
Most operators run the machine with the stock tyres that were on the machine at the time of purchase. This is not ideal especially if you are planning to use the machine for a wide range of applications. You need to follow these rules of thumb: use thicker tyres with added tread for harsh jobs and light weigh tyres for long and speedier hauls. You will normally find that the higher the tyre rating, the more rubber on the tyre. That added protection, however, also means that it builds up heat faster. If y9u are using the correct tyre for the job, it means that you will not be exposing your tyres to excessive heat. Modern machinery is equipped with sensors on each tyre which measure both pressure and temperature. If you are acquiring a machine and the salesman offers you this additional feature, do not fall into the trap that this is a sales gimmick used to separate you from your money. These additional features will pay for themselves over the medium term.
2. Make sure that your operators are well trained
Capital machinery is expensive. It is a big mistake to put a cheap and untrained operator inside the cab of this machine. A great way to ensure operators are well trained and confident behind the wheel is by using simulators. Simulators help operators understand all the different features and give them a good feel for how the machine works. Simulators are also great tools for the hiring process. They can help ensure you’re hiring competent new operators, and for your current staff, help you determine which ones are best for certain types of equipment.
3. Configure Your Worksite Efficiently
You may have the best machines that are manned by the most efficient operators. However, in the event that the worksite is not correctly configured and there is lots of productive downtime, this will cost you money. Productive downtime comes in the form of a machine waiting on other machines, traveling further than necessary, and constantly switching between forward and reverse.
Here are some practical tips on how you can make your worksite more efficient: keep grades, hairpin bends, and switchbacks to a minimum. If your site is full of grades over 10%, this will slow the machine down and burn excessive fuel. If there are hairpin bends and switchbacks, your machines will need to reverse frequently which places added wear on your valuable capital assets.
4. Keep Your Machines Properly Maintained.
We say it a lot, but proper maintenance is one of the biggest factors to keeping your machines up and running efficiently and safely. The time spent keeping up with your machines is worth it to cut down on costly downtime.
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