Dirt Talk: What Makes You Hesitate to Jump into Machine Control?
January 6, 2009
According to Johan Smet, Trimble’s director of marketing for heavy and highway construction, there is a vast market of contractors still hesitant to invest in machine control technology. “There’s 10 to 20 percent—or even zero—penetration depending on the region and type of contractor,” he says. “We’ve gotten the early adopters, but now we need to get the next more hesitant group across the bridge.”
We want to hear from you. What are the main challenges to implementing machine control technology? And what are the primary benefits? Post a comment here on “Dirt Talk” to air and share your views.
Comments (9)Post a Comment
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Title: Bad Data Models
By: Todd
Posted: January 8, 2009 2:26 PM
Something I hear time and time again is that the equipment just doesn't work. I have seen all too often it's bad data models not bad equipment. Using a bargain basement modeler is not the way to go. Like always, if you put garbage in, you will get garbage out. It's best to use a reputable company that can do the calculations, has verifiable experience, and even having a survey crew is nice.
Title: Bad Data Models
By: Thad Glankler
Posted: January 12, 2009 9:51 AM
I have to agree with Todd. Bad models give machine control a bad rap. I used to work for a machine control dealer dealing with the data. I saw many models that were created for machine control that were terrable models. Garbage in, garbage out.
That is whay I started my own data company, to show what good models are and to fill the niche GOOD data models for machine control and stake-out.
Title: Dirt Talk - Challenges to Implementing
By: Bill Crumb
Posted: January 14, 2009 2:40 PM
Mr. Smet, I have to agree with both Todd and Thad and echo their thoughts concerning the 3D model accuracies. Having 33 years of experience with machine control I have personal knowledge with the second tier of machine control sales and in my opinion this is directly related to the local dealerships knowledge and availability, thus leading and/or causing questions such as, “learning curve for employees, down time and more importantly product implementation”. If we’ll be honest with ourselves I’m sure we’ll agree the successful automation dealership is the mirror image of the earthmoving contractors company, thus mechanic = installer, operator = experienced trainer, foreman = sales person, estimator = data prep person, owner = owner. I’m sure this sounds simple however the owner of a construction company needs to “know” the local dealership has his back and is willing to jump when asked.
The biggest challenge in this formula is finding the training personnel for each dealership. Again, in my opinion if you present a proven step by step formula to success and teach the potential customer how your product will positively effect every phase of his job. And then explain how every department in his company will positively be effected, you’ll not only sell your product, but more importantly you’ll build a relationship for life, thus closing the door to competitive products.
The primary benefits, question is simple:
Engineering cost reduction, material control (balancing, placing & finishing), equipment utilization increase and methodical business management via daily volume calculations. If we’ll look at every phase of the site verses every department within his company and apply an accountability projection we’ll soon realize significant profits, thus more sales.
Bill Crumb
President/CEO
Machine Control Technology, Inc.
www.machinecontroltechnologyinc.com
Title: Failures to adapt Machine Control
By: Matt Eklund
Posted: January 14, 2009 5:34 PM
Machine control fails when the contractor doesn't commit to the technology or relies on the dealer for support. The realization is in that 3d is a system and not just a tool. Contractors expect it to work just as a laser would. "Set it up and go". Nothing could be further from the case. Contractors have to be prepared to solve, not just periodic, but many 3d and machine control issues a day. Without this expectation, forget it. Once the system is running efficiently, the ROI is huge, but there is no way to poor boy it.
Matt Eklund, PE
GPS Program Manager
Sukut Construction, Inc.
Title: Machine Control Implementation
By: Phillip Matthis
Posted: February 2, 2009 11:11 AM
I agree with everyone's comments but I think Matt hits the nail squarely on the head. Education and proper implementation are the keys to success using GPS machine control. If a contractor expects to get a good ROI on their equipment, they must embrace the technology with the understanding that their business culture is going to change using GPS and Machine Control.
Resistance to change and failure to invest in training for this technology are the largest hindrances to proper implementation. The equipment dealer must be capable of supporting and properly training the end-user. Also, the user must be open to learning, have a plan to implement the equipment, and dedicate time and personnel to educate themselves on the usage of GPS and Machine Control.
If there is commitment from the top down in the organization and the equipment is utilized to its potential then the ROI is tremendous. The benefits range from increased fuel savings, reduced equipment wear and tear, reduced time & labor costs to improved quality control (finding jobsite issues before they are BIG problems), placing dirt efficiently, and performing work faster with less error. The benefits far outweigh the cost of purchasing and implementing GPS & Machine Control.
Title: Machine control
By: Jerry M
Posted: February 9, 2009 7:16 PM
I have a hard time learning things like that, I am old fashion but I know it has to be better that srtings and 3 people. Then there is the start up cost that shy's me away with today's economy. We are a contractor that does a little bit of everything especially now days and that also makes it a little harder to take the plunge. I know we need to
Title: Machine Control Hesitation
By: Todd Morawietz
Posted: February 19, 2009 5:32 PM
Support support support. Many customers want to know that they have a hand to hold as long as it takes for them to become efficient with the system. I have a few small, less than 3 million per year, customers that were willing to make the investment knowing I would support them all the way through the process from what equipment to buy, build the model, perform the necessary staking, and teach their operators. These customers now want models on jobs as small as 10,000sf.
Title: Old Attitudes
By: Perry
Posted: February 21, 2009 8:46 AM
Every large contractor that has been in business for any time has made expensive investments into approaches that did not work. We call them 24k gold plated paperweights.
Every contractor is looking at machine control, but are waiting for their competition to endure the learning curve and get the bugs out of the system.
The single biggest obstacle today is the traditional method of data exchange and formatting. The sooner a standardized format is recognized and held by all manufacturers, the sooner design firms will have a target to shoot for as far as training their cadd department.
Title: GPS Machine Control
By: Chaitan
Posted: March 29, 2010 5:52 AM
Hi all,
I'm a surveying student working on a assignment. I'm hunting the web for some technical details about GPS machine control, any recent works that used GPS machine control etc. If any of you have any details and the time to pass them to me I'd appreciate it heaps.
My email address chaitan.patel@gmail.com