Constructio

n
Manageme
nt
MANAGING EQUIPMENT
 - The cost of equipment in a project varies from 10 to
30% of the total cost of the project, depending upon
the extent of mechanization.
EQUIPMENT - Proper planning, selection, procurement,
MANAGEMENT installation, operation, maintenance and
IN equipment replacement policy plays an important
role in equipment management for the successful
CONSTRUCTIO completion of the project.
N PROJECTS - Equipment manager’s main task is to reduce
downtime, achieve optimum equipment utilization
and increase production at minimum cost.
  Before starting every project its planning is
done with great care, as the efficiency of the
whole project largely depends upon its
planning.
 Modern construction projects are complex in
nature and success of a project depends
EQUIPMENT greatly on proper and scientific planning.
 This means that the data or basis taken should
PLANNING be based on past experiences gained in
various projects and on work studies carried
out in various conditions at various places.
 While planning a project we must very
carefully decide about the extent of use of
construction equipment.
  Manpower: Type of manpower required by the
project for its execution, is first decided and whether
this type of manual labour is cheaply and sufficiently
available round the year.
 Completion period: Completion period plays a
deciding role about the extent of mechanization,
since less the completion period more the
EXTENT OF mechanization.
MECHANIZATIO  Nature of work: Nature of work includes adverse
N weather, climatic conditions, topography, toughness,
handling of large quantities of construction material
for long distance.
 Availability of money: Since cost of equipment is
too high and to be spent initially, it needs heavy
investment in the beginning. Therefore availability of
money is a main factor in deciding the extent of
mechanization.
  Availability of Indigenous Equipment: After sales
service, repair facilities are also considered where
equipment manufactured in our own country are not
available.
 Social objects of the project: Sometimes projects
are sanctioned with the object of providing
employment opportunities, to improve the economic
condition of the masses in addition to the
development in the area.
EXTENT OF
 Labour Relations: In certain areas, past experience
MECHANIZATIO
indicates labour unrests, strikes, absenteeism,
N uncertainty, unavailability of labour or seasonal
fluctuations. In such circumstances machines are
preferred being more reliable to complete the project
in time.
 Overseas Projects: It is difficult and expensive to
send large number of man-power required in adopting
the manual means in these projects, therefore only
alternative left is to execute the project using
construction equipments only.
  Quality and Performance: The work carried out by
means of construction equipment is of high standard
of quality and performance. The quality is consistent,
EXTENT OF execution is fast and work is more durable.
MECHANIZATIO  Development of Industries: In countries like
N Ethiopia where industries are in developing stage, it is
the need of time to use construction equipment for
the development of manufacturing industry and
faster industrialization of the country.
 Points in favor of Points in favor of
Machines Manual labour
 1. It can handle tough works  1. Initial heavy investments are

USE OF which cannot be performed by not required to be made.

manual labour.  2. Valuable foreign exchange is

MACHINES  2. It is cheaper when quantum saved by employing exchange is

saved by employing manual
of work is more and material is labour instead of using machines
V/S USE OF required to be transported for
long distances.
which are to be imported.
 3. Small and short duration

MANUAL  3. Machines when used in the

project, it delivers better
projects are sometimes found to
be economical with manual

LABOUR quality of work. labour.

 4. It is possible to adhere to  4. Employment of manual labour,
schedules. leads to a considerable
improvement of the livelihood of
 5. It is easy to predict the people, which helps in social and
behavior of a machine as economic betterment
compared to that of man,  5. No problem due to delay in
hence planning is easy. procurement of spares for the
repair of machines. The delay
(lead time) is substantially high in
case of imported equipment.
  Working Shifts: By increasing the number of shifts
we can reduce the number of equipment required, as
the same equipment can be used in second and third
shift.
 Number and Size of Equipment: For deciding the
number and size of the equipment following factors
FORECASTIN should be considered.
G EQUIPMENT Quantum of work,
REQUIREMEN Working days available for completion of
project.
T Number of shifts planned.
 Matching Units: The number and size of the
matching equipment should be planned for each
activity, keeping in view that complete matching set
must be utilized at the maximum and combination
must be optimum.
  Procurement Scheduling: Procurement scheduling
is done considering procurement time required and
time when equipment is required.
 Workshop and Stores Planning: While planning for
the purchase of equipment, it is necessary to plan for
FORECASTIN the workshop and stores for carrying out the repair
and maintenance.
G EQUIPMENT
 Man power planning: Planning for manpower in
REQUIREMEN order to operate the equipment and to carry out the
T repair and maintenance is also necessarily be done
sufficiently in advance.
 Site Conditions: The type of equipment selected
mainly depends upon soil available, and valley
conditions, surface and strata where work is to be
carried out.
  The first stage of planning is to calculate the total
quantity of work involved in each operation.
 For correct planning it is very much essential to
ascertain quantity of work as accurate as possible.
Quantum of  While calculating the quantity of work involved it is
necessary to take a note of various constraints, for
work example,
 A. limitation of working space, which may affect the
efficiency of the machine, so as to assess the output
rate of equipment to be used.
 B. location of quarries and amount of material available
in each of them.
  Another phase of planning is to decide the equipment on the
basis of its output and capability.
 The equipment must be capable to handle the work efficiently
on which it is to be engaged.
Output  Output of the equipment varies with various conditions.
Following are some of them:
and  Different type of soil needs different amount of effort.

Capacity  Reduction of horse power of engine due to altitude.

 Time spent on servicing and inspection varies with the working
of conditions.
 Output of the equipment also depends upon the operator's
Equipmen efficiency.
 Output of dumper etc. depends on the condition of haul road.
t  Time spent on the unproductive works.
 Changing weather conditions are responsible for variation in
output.
 Capacities of the matching machineries working in the same
group.
  It is always a good practice to utilize equipment to the
limit of its useful life on one particular project.
 For a project of nearly 4 years or more duration, it is
possible to use the equipment to its full economic life.
 Experience has shown that a yearly utilization for as
equipment under average working condition in most
Utilization case is as follows:
and Time-  Single shift operation – 1500 hrs.
 Double shift operation – 2500 hrs.
period  Triple shift operation – 3200 hrs.
Two shift operation of equipment is economical and
should be employed whenever possible.

Three shift working results in frequent breakdowns and

low availability, which means more standbys and
increase in cost.
  Equipment must work in coordination, especially
when they are required to work in a team.
 Proper working and the maintenance of auxiliary
equipment should also be ensured.
 Poor maintenance of service roads may result in more
Equipment cycle time of trucks, dumpers etc. besides causing
Operation more downtime.
 In order to ensure proper operating of equipment and
Planning to eliminate delays it is necessary to ensure
scheduled maintenance in addition to watch the
working by the operator.
 Safety on the work is a must.
 Good workmen should be given proper incentives.
  Proper selection of equipment for a construction
project is of vital importance for its speedy and
economical completion.
 For proper selection of equipment, a considerable
experience in the operation and maintenance in the
field is essential.
SELECTION  Following are the main points which should be
OF considered in the process of equipment selection.
 A. Suitability for Job Conditions: The equipment must
EQUIPMENT meet the requirement of the work, climate and working
conditions.
 B. Size of the Equipment: Size of equipment should be
such that it must be able to be used with other
matching units.
 C. Standardization: It is better to have same type and
size of equipment in the project.
  D. Availability of Equipment in the market: The
equipment which is easily available in the market
should be purchased.
 E. Availability of Spare Parts: While selecting a
particular type or make of equipment, it should be
ensured that the spare parts will be available at
reasonable price throughout the working life of the
SELECTION equipment.
OF  F. Multipurpose Equipment (Versatility): There are
certain types of equipment which are not utilized fully.
EQUIPMENT  G. Availability of Know-how: The equipment selected
should be satisfactorily handled by available
operators and mechanics.
 H. Use in Future projects: When equipment completes
only a part of their useful life in a project, it should be
kept in view that the equipment can be used in future
projects and may not become obsolete.
  I. The Economical Aspects: While selecting the
equipment, it should be considered that the cost of
unit production should be minimum.
 J. Reliability of the Equipment: Equipment selected for
the project must be reliable one.
 K. Service Support: Service support should be
SELECTION available in the area of project where the equipment
shall be used. Service after sales is a major criteria for
OF selection of equipment.

EQUIPMENT  L. Operating Requirements: The equipment selected

should be easy to operate and maintain, acceptable
to the operator and should have lesser fuel
consumption.
 M. Past performance: If the equipment being
purchased is of new make and model, it is desirable
to enquire about its performance from other users,
who are using this make and model
  The planning of a project should be made at least 6 to
9 months in advance of commencement of work.
 This time lead is essential for the following main tasks
to be performed before the commencement of
project:
 A. Purchase of Equipment: This includes the formalities
FORWARD for calling enquiries from manufacturers, selecting an
equipment; time taken by the supplier for supply of the
PLANNING equipment and transporting it to the project site,
installation and commissioning it.
 B. Workshop Installation: A well equipped workshop
should be installed in the project, so as to fulfill the
requirement of repair of equipment.
 C. Spare Parts Stock: Initial lot of spares should be
purchased along with the equipment.
 D. Posting of Personnel: Selection of the right operator.
Thank you
ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY, CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT, CHAPTER-3 CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT