Central Dispatch Strategy to Optimize Dispatch at Teck Coal

Teck Coal utilizes dispatch systems operated by site-based dispatchers tomanage the equipment fleets at its operations. The dispatch function at each operation works independently but Teck Coal strives to standardize processes, operating practices and metrics used across the business unit. This paper identifies the issues with the site-based dispatch model utilized at the operations and examines whether a centralized dispatch model can address these issues and improve Teck Coal’s dispatch function. The research shows that a centralized dispatch model can address the identified issues

Reducing risky driver behaviour through the implementation of a driver risk management system

South Africa has one of the highest incidences of road accidents in the world. Most accidents are avoidable and are caused by driver behaviour and errors. The purpose of this article was to identify the riskiest driver behaviours in commercial fleets in South Africa, to determine the business impact of such behaviour, to establish a framework for the management of risky driver behaviour and to test the framework by applying a leading commercial driver behaviour management system as a case study. The case study comprised three South African commercial fleets. Using data from these fleets, critical incident triangles were used to determine the ratio data of risky driver behaviour to near-collisions and collisions. Based on managing the riskiest driver behaviours as causes of more serious incidents and accidents, the results indicated that through the implementation of an effective driver risk management system, risky incidents were significantly reduced

The effect of overloading on reliability of wheel loader structural components

This research attempts to provide a fundamental understanding into the relationship between the productivity of material handling equipment, specifically wheel loaders, and their ability to operate reliably when subjected to high overload conditions. The overall aim is to determine the effect of overloading the bucket on wheel loader reliability. The specific objectives of the research are to: 1) evaluate the effect of overloading the bucket on wheel loader productivity; 2) examine the effect of overloading the bucket on hydraulic pressures in the hoist cylinders (used as a proxy for forces on a wheel loader); and 3) investigate the effect of overloading the bucket on the reliability of structural components of a wheel loader. To achieve these objectives, the research used data from on-board equipment monitors from the global fleet of ultra-class wheel loaders for a specific original equipment manufacturer to test the various research hypotheses. The data included production data, failure and repair data, and hydraulic cylinder pressures, which were used as a proxy for stresses on structural components. ANOVA and Pearson and Spearman correlations tests were performed on data samples to test the hypotheses. Duty-cycle relationships were established using linear life stress relationships ratios for the wheel loaders structural components. The research showed that, while higher bucket loads increase productivity, there is evidence that they slow down the loading cycle, may be detrimental to productivity. The hoist cylinder pressure increased with increasing payload weight. The reliability of the structural components was similar in both the standard and duty-cycle cases; although, the accuracy of the reliability models increased when the models accounted for duty-cycles --Abstract, page iii

Investigating into the Prevalence of Complex Event Processing and Predictive Analytics in the Transportation and Logistics Sector: Initial Findings From Scientific Literature

As ever new sensor solutions are invading people’s everyday lives and business processes, the use of the signals and events provided by the devices poses a challenge. Innovative ways of handling the large amount of data promise an effective and efficient means to overcome that challenge. With the help of complex event processing and predictive techniques, added value can be created. While complex event processing is able to process the multitude of signals coming from the sensors in a continuous manner, predictive analytics addresses the likelihood of a certain future state or behavior by detecting patterns from the signal database and predicting the future according to the detections. As to the transportation and logistics domain, processing the signal stream and predicting the future promises a big impact on the operations because the transportation and logistics sector is known as a very complex one. The complexity of the sector is linked with the many stakeholders taking part in a variety of operations and the partly high level of automation often being accompanied by manual processes. Hence, predictions help to prepare better for upcoming situations and challenges and, thus, to save resources and cost. The present paper is to investigate the prevalence of complex event processing and predictive analytics in logistics and transportation cases in the research literature in order to motivate a subsequent systematic literature view as the next step in the research endeavor

Use of smart technologies to collect and retain crash information

Task 1.1 of Pendant Work Package 1 has a threefold objective: firstly to develop methods and guidelines for the reconstruction of road traffic accidents, secondly to develop a database of information about public domain crash tests, and thirdly to develop methods for determining the comparability and accuracy of reconstruction methods. As part of the third aim the Description of work (2001) states: "Specific reference will be made to the use of smart technologies to collect and retain information about the crash (‘black boxes’, ‘crash recorders’). The Task will examine current capabilities and identify the main obstacles to their wider implementation." The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the state of the art in recording information about the crash phase, including current capabilities and main obstacles to further implementation

Shifting Into Gear: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating a Car Ownership Program

Offers detailed strategies for organizations pursuing car ownership programs to help low-income residents obtain vehicles for employment access and family economic improvement

Performance of short and long range wireless communication technologies in construction

The ever increasing complexity of construction projects asks for improved communication and automated data collection supported by continually improving electronic tools. Advances in information technologies enable us to link critical resources on construction sites, such as trucks and cranes, to the project website creating many opportunities to drastically improve productivity, safety and quality. While the use of electronic equipment is nothing new in construction, no model exists to integrate them into one unified framework. This paper presents a wireless site-network concept consisting of information hubs enabled to automatically connect data sinks with sources supported by software agents. Included in this paper is the discussion of a mobile information hub, the eCKiosk, enabled to connect the work crew electronically to the project network while collecting automatically live “as-built” data. It begins with a review of long range wireless as the basis for designing a robust Agile Site Communication Network (ASCNet). Site experiments with short range wireless conduits and embedded RFID tags showed that they are able to provide information far beyond an identification number. While wireless technologies are poised to open totally new avenues to manage construction, more field-tests are needed to establish a solid knowledge base to create a pervasive network for the dynamically changing building site

Vehicle availability, efficiency and quality in fleet management: a case study of eThekwini Municipality.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The purpose of this study is to investigate and make recommendations on how to maintain a balance between vehicle availability, efficiency and quality. The objectives of the study were achieved by conducting a literature review on fleet management and acquiring primary data by interviewing eight participants of the fleet management unit of the EThekwini Municipality. The demand for transport is determined by the transportation requirements and needs of transport for the organisation. This demand then informs what type of vehicles, size and capacity that an organisation should acquire. Then the organisation needs to manage and balance this demand by ensuring that there is always sufficient supply or vehicle availability in order to meet the transport requirements or the demand. The critical factors that affect vehicle availability, efficiency and quality in the municipality were identified as, technical skills deficit, shortage of staff, age of fleet, workshop scheduling, fleet size and overall management of workshops. The limitations that were encountered was availability of staff for interviews, as these were in depth interviews the interviewing takes time from the participants’ hours of work. The recommendations made to the management of the unit are: To develop an intensive on the job and formal training program for addressing skills deficit and staff shortage that were determined as the critical factors that are affecting vehicle availability, efficiency and quality; Review fleet replacement programme in order to reduce older vehicles that are in the fleet; Review the maintenance and vehicle service program and scheduling of vehicles, in order to regulate the workload that goes through the workshops and Strengthen relationships with the SCM Unit with regards to procurement of spares and Contract Management