Equipment Selection

Equipment Productivity 

In some types of operations, the production required is a known quantity. The best size of equipment can he chosen to deliver that production at the least cost. Quite often, determinedly equipment size is not so simple. 

Past experience is a major factor to assess the size of equipment that will give the best production rate. The buyer's own experience can be supplemented by that of the equipment supplier. Many suppliers can furnish data on equipment capability under varying operating conditions. 

Primary usage should be distinguished from secondary usage. Suppose a crawler tractor is under consideration. Is it being purchased primarily for bulldozing. land clearing, ripping, or push-loading scrapers'? Primary usage is an important consideration in determining the size of equipment and its attachments, while some compromise can be made in secondary usage. 

Equipment production is greatly of erected by the operating conditions. Wheel tractor-scrapers are more productive on a flat, straight, well-maintained haul road than they are on an uphill, rough, winding road. They can be loaded faster with certain materials than with others. Some materials are difficult to eject and spread on the fill, while others can dump fast aid. In assessing the equipment productivity, all conditions to be encountered in the work cycle should be considered. 

Equipment rarely operate on conditions that are static or predictable. Experience aid judgement can define them best. Experience is having a good understanding of the area in which the equipment will work. These include topography, soil types and climate. Judgement is the ability to evaluate possible combinations of operating conditions as actually existing. What will the  equipment encounter, most of the time, during its productive life? Local equipment suppliers call help in evaluating local job conditions and the effect on the productivity of a specific equipment. 

When considering larger equipment, trans portability between work.sites becomes an important consideration. Legal restrictions on the movement on highways   should be determined. Whether special permits  'are  needed or can the equipment he partially dismantled and reassembled in case of pernicious not being available, are some of the considerations. 

In considering equipment size, the operator's wages is also a factor. As the size  and productivity of an equipment increases, the operator's wages become a smaller percentage of the cost of moving a unit volume of material. But, an equipment that is too large can become an economical bur deli aid an application handicap. Conversely, an equipment  that is too small will probably require greater maintenance aid repair.