Several industries, like construction and manufacturing, rely heavily on heavy equipment. Not only do these industries require equipment in excellent shape and condition, but they also need to proactively monitor it for optimal performance.
Using advanced tools, like a heavy equipment management system, equipment managers can devise and implement comprehensive asset management plans to increase their ROI. All your heavy equipment needs is a bit of care and management, and it is good to go for long periods!
Let’s talk about organizing your high-value heavy equipment for better operational results!
What is heavy equipment management?
Suppose Adams oversees the construction of a new commercial building and manages twenty-five different types of heavy machinery daily. Examples include concrete mixers, excavators, forklifts, and cranes. Consistent tracking of the machinery is essential to their job as they have to ensure that the construction does not halt due to delays.
Heavy equipment management comes into play in such scenarios! It involves tracking, overseeing, and managing different types of heavy machinery to stay on top of everyday operations. Heavy equipment management is not only limited to equipment management but also includes devising impactful strategies to optimize equipment use.
Proper equipment management helps avoid equipment misuse. By using a heavy equipment management tool, Adams can:
| Action | How? |
| Create an asset register | Start a project and log different varieties of machinery along with asset labels for hassle-free tracking |
| Allocate machinery | Assess the current equipment usage and allocate it to meet the project deadline |
| Conduct on-site inspection | Reserve the equipment in-advance for routine check-ups every few days. |
| Initiate maintenance | Maintain the equipment facing extensive wear and tear |
| Present reports | Conduct a detailed data analysis to present to stakeholders |
This is not it! There is a lot more Adams can do to manage their heavy equipment better.
Need for heavy equipment management
According to a report, the construction equipment market stood at 383600 units in 2023 and is expected to cross 486000 units by 2029—experiencing a growth rate of 4.05%. This means more users for heavy equipment that will require rigorous management. But why is heavy equipment management necessary?
1. Asset lifecycle management (ALM)
A well-developed plan for heavy equipment management includes managing the life of equipment. This equates to understanding the need to procure a piece of machinery, deploy it to fulfill its exact purpose, maintain it, and finally assess if it is no longer needed to responsibly dispose of it. While these processes might not seem that major at first, they define the trajectory a piece of heavy equipment follows to deliver optimal performance.
Asset lifecycle management helps extend the life of heavy equipment by enabling managers to keep the assets in working condition. With ALM as the strategy, equipment managers can track equipment operations and ensure they are neither underutilized nor overutilized.
2. Reduced equipment loss
One of the core components of heavy equipment management is tracking the equipment. Heavy equipment is expensive and must be well-monitored to avoid loss. All equipment is tracked in the system you are using, along with its details. This way, you know where the equipment has been used, when it is being used, and who is the custodian for transparency.
If you follow the proper protocol for heavy equipment management, you can avoid equipment theft or loss. The protocol entails regularly tracking equipment and implementing security measures to enhance safety.
3. Increased safety measures
Not only this, but heavy equipment needs to be used safely to minimize the risk of accidents. Implementing OSHA regulations helps maximize safety at the workplace by ensuring that the equipment is safe to use. OSHA requires organizations to keep the equipment safe to use by implementing some regulations, including:
| Category | OSHA Standard | Regulation |
| Requirements for use of heavy equipment | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.600 | Equipment must be maintained for smooth functioning. Equipment must have the necessary safety gear, such as safety belts, alarms, and lights. |
| Equipment use | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602 | Equipment is to be inspected in detail before use by authorized personnelNo unauthorized users must be near the equipment when being used |
| Equipment maintenance | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.550 | Maintenance logs are to be created in accordance with each health check |
| Emergency training | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.23 | First aid kits must be readily available on-site to deal with emergenciesTraining must be provided to the workers |
This list highlights some ways OSHA, being an integral part of heavy equipment management, regulates the use of heavy equipment.
Checklist for heavy equipment monitoring
Following a maintenance checklist to handle heavy equipment can pay off in the long run. It helps outline all the necessary tasks while checking heavy equipment for efficiency.
You can refer to the following checklist as an example.
Proactively managing heavy equipment
Practical strategies to manage heavy equipment enable you to achieve unparalleled growth. You can improve your turnaround time for equipment requests and meet organizational needs faster and better if your heavy equipment is well-sorted. As a construction or manufacturing organization, you can:
- Gain competitive advantage through improved functions
- Achieve organizational stability and improved level of business outcome
- Reduce repair costs, leading to higher profits
- Increase safety levels for employees through preventive maintenance
Let’s help you understand some best practices you can follow for cost-reduction and increased efficiency using a heavy equipment management software:
1. Track the on-site location of assets
Are you also tired of losing track of your heavy equipment amidst handling multiple projects? You can easily avoid that by tracking the location of your critical equipment regularly. You can check assets’ location live with GPS tracking, especially if you are moving critical equipment from one location to another.
Similarly, by using IDs assigned to every tool and machine, equipment can be easily checked out and checked-in by workers. You can even use scanners on-site to avoid delays and manage a mass quantity of assets. This way, a transparent check and balance system can be established for effective physical asset management.
2. Categorize and group equipment
As soon as a piece of equipment is procured, you can record critical asset details with the help of a detailed asset register. Consolidating all information in one place simplifies its accessibility and categorization. Categorization can be achieved by grouping the equipment so similar machinery is visible under one broader segment. For instance, you can create two groups called “heavy equipment” and “equipment peripherals” to organize your equipment.
Grouping and categorization go hand in hand. Tagging and sorting at the time of equipment procurement are two ways to efficiently organize the equipment. This even helps in heavy equipment inventory management as you can easily categorize and sort your inventory for better visibility and use.
3. Assess asset depreciation overtime
Recording depreciation is critical for organizations, especially those working on tight deadlines and who cannot afford work delays. Organizations essentially record asset devaluation rates as a risk management strategy. This is a smart move because it allows them to:
- Calculate resale value
- Minimize downtime
- Prolong the useful life of equipment
- Control service intervals and overhead costs
Apart from the benefits mentioned above, asset depreciation allows for managing equipment purchase orders as well. If a machine is at the last stage of its life, you will be able to order new stock before it actually expires. Such precautionary practices have a positive impact as they help eliminate extra repair costs.
4. Implement advanced security control
One of the greatest challenges when it comes to equipment management is the threat of theft and fraud. As tools and machines are subject to frequent check-ins and checkouts by various employees, chances of misplacement are high. The only way to control this malpractice is to design a strong security system to restrict tool access. A heavy equipment management system helps you do that through access controls and access restrictions.
This comes in handy as you can set some machinery off-limits to unauthorized users. Lower the risks associated with infringement and misuse of equipment by defining user roles for your employees.
5. Check performance history
Heavy equipment monitoring includes checking an asset’s performance history to guide future decisions. With every maintenance or service session, the history is recorded in the system. This way, you know when, how and by whom a certain maintenance activity was conducted.
Maintenance logs make it convenient for managers to identify patterns of failure and breakdown. This way, they can make wiser decisions pertaining to replacement, and repair, so operations never halt.
6. Regular maintenance routines
Slight negligence in asset servicing can cause breakdowns in the middle of work operations. The absence of maintenance does not only mean poor equipment to function with, it also brings along a sense of uncertainty. You can limit the chances of unexpected downtimes, by automating maintenance for your tools and machines.
You can initiate recurring maintenance so that the frequently used equipment is serviced on time. Seamlessly finish projects with minimal downtime by keeping records of all the maintenance activities.
7. Conduct a thorough data review
Decisions that are directly linked with revenue generation are not taken lightly. They require a thorough inquiry into the usage patterns and asset utilization for critical decision-making. Your heavy equipment management can be better analyzed if done with the help of asset reports.
You can create reports of your choice—from maintenance reports to depreciation reports—to get a holistic view of your equipment’s performance. Statistical analysis guides decision making by enabling managers to critically reflect on the equipment.
Gear your heavy equipment for excellence
The right combination of human and technical capital can lead your company to attain a higher rate of returns. To get the best out of your capital investment, you can choose a web-based solution designed to mold according to your requirements.
Improve your heavy equipment management by investing in viable and feasible solutions that can help upgrade your operations.
