Construction equipment are the most crucial and critical resource for a construction company. Construction equipment are a prerequisite for timely completion of all construction projects. As a matter of fact the equipment are one of the most capital intensive long terms investments that a construction company makes. Expenses related to construction equipment have a major impact on wether the company’s balance sheet shows profits or losses and in what quantity. Keeping the economic viability of the company in mind managing the construction equipment and the related expenses becomes top priority at construction equipment companies.
Construction equipment management refers to continuous evaluation of the construction equipment fleet and its cost while at the same time considering the projects at hand. The process of balancing the expense and use of the construction equipment against the timelines and income from the projects can be called construction equipment management. A construction equipment manager needs to be able to take practical decisions with regards to management of the construction equipment to ensure maximum benefits with minimal expenses for the company.
Construction equipment should ideally pay for themselves by helping the owner earn more than it costs to own, operate, maintain, store and use the machine. Operation costs are a recurring expense based on frequency of use while idle sitting machines are a drain to the income. Construction fleets should be evaluated continuously to determine wether;
The choice of construction equipment for a job site is a key factor to be considered for timely completion of the project within the stipulated budget.It is crucial that the construction equipment managers thoroughly understand the tasks that need to be completed, the machines that need to be used, the budget and time constraints for the same for flawless execution of the construction project.
Construction equipment management can either be taken up project wise or for the company as a whole. Cost-effectiveness is a major criteria of construction equipment management. Following are the things to be considered for effective construction equipment management
All in all effective construction equipment is the answer to making construction projects more cost effective while ensuring timely completion of projects.
Construction equipment can be a very high expenditure for contractors. Thus, proper management is required for the optimal return on investment. Downtime due to equipment damage can result in discontented customers and difficulty winning future projects. Therefore, it is important to execute effective strategies to extend the life of your construction equipment and optimize its productivity. Here are five practical ways that you can implement.
1. Know the Capacity of Your Construction Equipment
Each heavy equipment is designed with a different purpose and to be paired with certain attachments or spare parts. When operators use the equipment for jobs that do not fit its functions, repair it with incompatible spare parts, or use wrong attachments, they can cause damage to it.
Therefore, it is important to comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations on how your construction equipment should be used and repaired. Please note that some machines are also made to lift and transport goods with a certain weight, and operators must know the limitations
Using equipment exceed its performance specifications and limitations can reduce its efficiency and effectiveness, which in turn can cause failures that can endanger workers. Overloading, overuse, or excessive travel can contribute to mechanical problems and safety problems.
2. Conduct Inspections Immediately After Use
Checking your construction equipment after each use is critical to know whether it is still in good condition and can be used for future projects. Your machines may look fine after returning from the construction site, but they may experience performance degradation or invisible damage.
Thus, it is important to perform an inspection as soon as possible after the equipment returns from the work site. If your machines are damaged after being leased to a client, then you may request compensation to them for the machine downtime. To enable you to record and view the details of your equipment, consider using an automated asset management system.
3. Give Your Operators the Right Training
A well-trained operator can make a significant difference in the lifetime of your construction equipment. A good-performed operator can reduce the risk of damage to equipment, because they will understand the capabilities and limitations of the equipment while identifying issues that may occur to it.
A proper training program for heavy equipment operators must include manual reviews for certain equipment, system demonstrations and controls, routine preventive maintenance reviews for machines, and testing to ensure that the operators have acquired sufficient skills and knowledge. For certain equipment, special certification may be required before the work gets started.
4. Perform Routine Maintenance
The first step in carrying out maintenance is establishing a regular routine for inspecting and maintaining equipment. Each piece of equipment must be checked daily to identify problems such as fluid levels, tire pressure, oil piping leaks, and any looseness, cracks or loss of important parts.
Routine maintenance requirements, such as oil or brake replacement, must be carried out according to technical standards and scheduled in advance. However, if your construction equipment is exposed to very harsh environmental conditions, then you might want to adjust the manufacturer’s recommendations. For example, in dusty areas, air filter replacement may be needed more often.
To ensure that routine maintenance runs well, we recommend that you use an automated asset management system. This system makes it easy for you to determine maintenance schedules, assign operators to conduct inspections, and keep track of service logs, all these processes can be done through one system.
5. Make the Most of Downtime
You and your entire team have tried as hard as possible to make everything smooth, yet downtime still occurs. In this circumstance, there is nothing else you can do but make the most of it.
A few things you can do during downtime are handling and preparing documents, moving equipment from one location to another, having certain materials shipped, checking the condition of your other equipment, and taking care of your transportation including changing the gas or oils.
Managing your construction equipment can save you time and money, which will ultimately result in better opportunities to win future projects and maintain your business reputation.
Abridged Sources: mahindraconstructionequipment/hashmicro
