Effectiveness and efficiency of earthmoving in street construction at Espoo Public Works Department
Franco, Bernardo (2014)
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015120719670
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015120719670
Tiivistelmä
This thesis is the second research conducted in the topic of effectiveness and efficiency of earthmoving in street construction at Espoo Public Works Department. Earthmoving is an integral part of street construction and its effectiveness has a large impact on the overall result of the street construction unit. Among a total of approximately 35 earthmoving trucks in use at Espoo Public Works Department’s street construction unit, any improvement in efficiency can yield significant cost benefit.
Earlier research conducted by Pasi Heiskanen in 2013 indicated that the efficiency of earthmoving in street construction at Espoo Public Works Department was below a satisfactory level. This was proven by quantitative research which revealed that the idling times of earthmoving trucks consisted of 49 % of the average workday in the year 2012.
On the basis of the first research, tools to improve efficiency were developed and put into use. However, the results of this thesis indicated that several of the problematic areas hindering efficiency have remained unchanged. Also the effects of the tools developed for improving earthmoving processes were underwhelming. Quantitative research of this thesis resulted in 57 % idling time for earthmoving trucks in 2014.
This thesis recommends Espoo Public Works Department to rethink its earthmoving demand fulfillment strategies. Enabling fluid cross-site truck usage is the most important aspect of reaching higher efficiency. As the primary recommendation of this thesis, the researcher suggests developing a smart device ordering and routing system for earthmoving trucks which addresses several key aspects currently hindering earthmoving efficiency.
Earlier research conducted by Pasi Heiskanen in 2013 indicated that the efficiency of earthmoving in street construction at Espoo Public Works Department was below a satisfactory level. This was proven by quantitative research which revealed that the idling times of earthmoving trucks consisted of 49 % of the average workday in the year 2012.
On the basis of the first research, tools to improve efficiency were developed and put into use. However, the results of this thesis indicated that several of the problematic areas hindering efficiency have remained unchanged. Also the effects of the tools developed for improving earthmoving processes were underwhelming. Quantitative research of this thesis resulted in 57 % idling time for earthmoving trucks in 2014.
This thesis recommends Espoo Public Works Department to rethink its earthmoving demand fulfillment strategies. Enabling fluid cross-site truck usage is the most important aspect of reaching higher efficiency. As the primary recommendation of this thesis, the researcher suggests developing a smart device ordering and routing system for earthmoving trucks which addresses several key aspects currently hindering earthmoving efficiency.