The Real World Impact of Machine Control-Part III

Written by Paul F. Hahn

Created on Saturday, 07 May 2011 19:05

Many phone calls and interviews later; a pattern is emerging. Although the sample is still very small; I am hearing the same message from those I have spoken to.  Contractors who have adopted machine control see it as a competitive advantage. Perhaps, somewhere in their organizations someone is calculating the return on investment, but the people I have spoken to simply see it as a tool to win more jobs and complete them more profitable.

They say it is a “no-brainer”.  The benefits are dramatic and obvious. They tend to buy more systems as soon as that makes economic sense.  They are using less people, getting their grading and excavating work done faster and more accurately.  This has led them to look at bidding jobs differently.  They calculate costs using their knowledge of how machine control has reduced the time it takes to complete tasks previously undertaken without it.  Then there are the other benefits of reduced or eliminated re-work, material and fuel savings, etc. 

With this knowledge in hand, they employ a new paradigm of how much and how long it will take to complete project tasks.  This makes sense in our current bidding environment.  Contractors are thinking of how many more jobs they have won, not just the improved productivity/profitability.  These days, jobs are more fiercely competed than before and more and more competitors have tossed their hats into the ring.  Some even leaving their traditional territorial boundaries.

For those who have not yet made the decision to investment in machine control; this way of thinking creates some difficulties.  Hard numbers, if they exist at all, remain internal to those companies already using machine control and manufacturers’ productivity studies. But for those who are using machine control, they are convinced and working with new bidding numbers that give them a definite advantage when the bids are opened. Perhaps you can look around at who is winning the lion’s share of the bids and try to find out what technologies they are employing.

I will continue to delve into this topic of documented productivity gains and return- on-investment numbers.  So far, one belief is consistent.  Those using machine control are winning more jobs because of it.  They can’t imagine working without it and they intend to buy more as the economy improves.  Look for more interviews in the coming months as I try to nail down the numbers and give you some data to work with.  I am enjoying this research and hope it provides you with some useful information.  If you would like to share your experiences with improved efficiencies, productivity and job site operations due to your adaptation of machine control; please contact me through Machine Control Online.

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