Evolution of factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting

Harvest efficiency is defined as the percentage of fruits harvested by total production. The percentage of fruits harvested is less than 100% when working with trunk shakers to detach olives. It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested in order to increase farmer’s income. This objective can be achieved knowing the evolution of the main factors affecting fruit detachment. Fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them are important for harvest efficiency. Field trials took place for two years (2013-2014) in Vilariça Valley, northeast Portugal in an olive orchard with ‘Cobrançosa Transmontana’ cultivar. It was adopted a mechanical harvesting system based on a trunk shaker to detach fruits, and an inverted umbrella to collect fruits. Elementary operation times were measured in seconds to evaluate work rates. FRF and P were measured in the ripening period, to evaluate their evolution. In this paper are presented the preliminary results of the ratio FRF (fruit removal force)/fruit weight evolution during the ripening period (P) and the results of the equipment work rate (trees h-1). The ratio FRF/P has predominantly descendant values in the weeks before harvest, from 140 to 80 as a result of a FRF downward variation from 4.9 to 2.94 N and an upward variation of P from 0.0294 to 0.0637 N. The FRF/P ratio stabilizes the decline in the last week of November just before harvesting, registering in some cases a slight increase in consequence of FRF increase higher than P increase (contrary to the tendency of previous weeks). Equipment work rate showed values between 40 and 57 trees h-1, confirming previous results.The authors want to thank to the Program PRODER Medida 4.1 Nº 44663 for the financial support, to the farmer of Quinta do Carrascal – Viaz and personnel involved in the field trials allowing to get data presented

Evolution of factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting

Harvest efficiency is defined as the percentage of fruits harvested by total production. The percentage of fruits harvested is less than 100% when working with trunk shakers to detach olives. It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested in order to increase farmer’s income. This objective can be achieved knowing the evolution of the main factors affecting fruit detachment. Fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them are important for harvest efficiency. Field trials took place for two years (2013-2014) in Vilariça Valley, northeast Portugal in an olive orchard with ‘Cobrançosa Transmontana’ cultivar. It was adopted a mechanical harvesting system based on a trunk shaker to detach fruits, and an inverted umbrella to collect fruits. Elementary operation times were measured in seconds to evaluate work rates. FRF and P were measured in the ripening period, to evaluate their evolution. In this paper are presented the preliminary results of the ratio FRF (fruit removal force)/fruit weight evolution during the ripening period (P) and the results of the equipment work rate (trees h-1). The ratio FRF/P has predominantly descendant values in the weeks before harvest, from 140 to 80 as a result of a FRF downward variation from 4.9 to 2.94 N and an upward variation of P from 0.0294 to 0.0637 N. The FRF/P ratio stabilizes the decline in the last week of November just before harvesting, registering in some cases a slight increase in consequence of FRF increase higher than P increase (contrary to the tendency of previous weeks). Equipment work rate showed values between 40 and 57 trees h-1, confirming previous results.The authors want to thank to the Program PRODER Medida 4.1 Nº 44663 for the financial support, to the farmer of Quinta do Carrascal – Viaz and personnel involved in the field trials allowing to get data presented

Data used as an indicator of mechanical olive harvest season

When and how harvest olives are among the most important issues to improve quality and quantity to ensure the best net return to growers. Trunk shakers are commonly used in mechanical harvesting to detach olives. Field trials showed that with this equipment less than 100% of the production is detached, usually 70% to 90% (Michelakis, 2002).It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested, to reduce losses. To achieve this goal factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting must be known, to be used in the definition of harvest season. Some of these factors are the result of the orchard management, like tree shape, canopy density, pruning methods. Others depend on the cultivar, such as fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them. FRF and P are considered decisive in the detachment process. Results of field trials carried out in the Northeast of Portugal with “Cobrançosa Transmontana” cultivar show the FRF, P and their ratio evolution in the ripening period. They have potential to become indicators of the mechanical olive harvest season

Olives mechanical harvesting trunk shaker based - costs update

Resultados de capacidade de trabalho (árvores/hora) e custos de utilização (por kg azeitona colhida) obtidos em trabalho de campo realizado em Portugal ao longo de mais de cinco anos em olivais com 150 árvores por hectare (em média) foram publicados por Almeida et al (2001) e Almeida et al (2007). Dois sistemas de colheita foram utilizados, ambos com o mesmo vibrador de tronco. No sistema I a azeitona destacada foi recolhida em lonas movimentadas manualmente. No sistema II a azeitona destacada foi recolhida num apara-frutos mecânico. A capacidade de trabalho média do sistema I é de 57 árvores por hora e do sistema II é de 40 árvores por hora. Os resultados mostram que o tempo gasto no deslocamento entre árvores é importante para o valor da capacidade de trabalho. Com o sistema baseado em recolha manual foram obtidos melhores resultados de capacidade de trabalho, mas os custos de utilização do sistema baseado no apara-frutos mecânico foram mais favoráveis. Dependendo do número de árvores vibradas por hora, para o sistema I os custos médios atuais são de 0,36 € a 0,12 € por kg de azeitona colhida e para o sistema II os custos médios atuais são de 0,36 € a 0,11 € por kg de azeitona colhida. Mais de uma década após a publicação dos primeiros resultados, os preços dos equipamentos, da mão-de-obra e de outros fatores, são substancialmente diferentes, assim como o valor da azeitona. Uma atualização de custos é apresentada e analisadas as consequências para os referidos sistemas de colheita mecânica. O acréscimo de custos neste período de tempo é de 49%.Results ofwork rates (trees/hour) and costs (per kg of olives harvested) from field trials performed in Portugal over more than tive years in olive orchards averaging 150 trees per hectare, was published by Almeida, A. et al (2001) and Almeida, A. et al (2007). Olives were harvested using two han/esting systems, both with the same trunk shaker, but in system l olives detached were collected by canvas manually moved and in system II olives detached were collected with an inverted umbrella. The average working rate of system l is 57 trees per hour. The average working rate of system l is 40 trees per hour. Results showed that the time spent in the displacement between trees is very important for the work rate value. Labour based manual collecting was found to reach the higher working rates, whereas in terms of costs the inverted umbrella scored best results. According on the number of trees harvested per year, the actual médium costs for system l are 0,36 to 0,12 per kg of olives harvested and the actual médium costs for system II are 0,36 to 0,11 per kg of olives harvested. More than one decade after the publication of first results, equipment and labour costs are substantial different as well as olive production value. Costs are updated and analyzed the consequences for referred olive mechanical harvesting systems. The costs increase in this period of time is 49%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Textile and clothing supply chain management : use of planning-link in the strategic planning process

In the current business world setting, the strategic directions are important not only for individual entities in the chain, but the complete chain itself should be considered for analysis. This helps developing competitive advantages and retaining them. This article presents a methodology for analyzing a supply chain and describes how entities in the chain can be improved to materialize the available and potential opportunities. The use of Planning-Link for mapping the cause and effect relationship between existing status of the chain to the future or planned outputs is suggested here which makes the process of strategic planning easier and logical

A study of textile & clothing supply chain in Pakistan

The expansion of textile and clothing production to Asian regions has both, increased competition and created a need for integration with the textile and clothing global supply chain. Strategies are being designed to improve competitiveness and responsiveness of the chains with increasing diversification of products. This study examines the potential of different strategies formulated by experts with focus on Pakistan´s case, developed by brain storming sessions with external experts, composed from a chain´s internal-view and based on existing strengths and weaknesses in the chain using a SWOT analysis. The aim of this previous study was to identify internal and external factors relevant to textile and clothing supply chain in Pakistan. These factors played an important role in the development of strategies which are useful for improving the competitiveness of the chain. In future it is our intention to formulate our decision structure based on external view of the chain and with more generalized criteria. This kind of structure produces the view which is usual in supply chain competitive scenarios. Here the criteria were viewed internally and the problem was formulated based on SWOT factors. Thus, using inputs from our previous work, “SWOT Analysis of Pakistan Textile Supply Chain”, we evaluated the strategies developed for achieving competitiveness in textile and clothing supply chain in Pakistan and their potential effects using a process of prioritization following Saaty´s AHP. There can be innerdependencies and feedback within criteria, sub factors and alternatives which may have potential effects on the results. To study the effects of innerdependencies among factors we have used ANP and compared the results obtained by the two methods. We have suggested the implementation of developed strategies simultaneously through different entities involved with the chain, as government agencies, academic and research institutes, industrial associations and entrepreneurs themselves.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Competitiveness in the textile and clothing supply chain

The competitiveness scenario in the textile and clothing is always changing with the entrance of new players and changes in the rules of trade. This can be observed by looking at the developments that took place around the world in the last decade. This study finds how things are changing in this chain and how players are positioning themselves in this new competitive scenario. One such player of the chain is focused for study and its strategic position was analyzed and directions for improving competitiveness were identified. The focus is taken to more depth by considering the tactical issues for the competitive options already identified

Improving supply chain management in the clothing industry

The main objective of this project was to improve the efficiency of the supply chain in a Portuguese clothing company. After analyzing and describing the initial status of the company operations, in order to identify problems, a plan of action was developed and new procedures implemented according to the lean thinking principles. These reviewed procedures were based on paradigms such as lean, agile and leagile, as well as some collaborative practices (VMI and CPFR). Through a better coordination of the materials and information flows, using the Raw Materials Warehouse Management System, the company achieved significant reductions in the levels of excess stock and in the storage response time. Additionally, the processing times of raw materials in quality control were improved and the cutting station supply became more efficient.Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Projecto: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674

Inventory management in the footwear industry

There are some industries that are traditionally fashion dependent. This is the case of the footwear industry where products are replaced usually every six months. In this context, the difficulty in forecasting accurately demand for new items is a serious obstacle to an efficient inventory management. The main objective of this study was to identify and analyze the difficulties faced by a Portuguese footwear company and propose solutions to improve inventory management. The most relevant raw materials used by the company were identified through an ABC analysis and suggestions for the redefinition of procedures were made to improve inventory management performance.Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Projecto: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674