Forecasting is the identification of the most likely future time when major equipment components like engines, transmissions, pumps or conveyor drives may have to be replaced. It is not an automatic action in which, for example, a component is simply replaced after the accumulation of a certain number of operating hours or the passage of a number of weeks. This type of 'guesswork' can result in many 'perfectly good components' being replaced prematurely only to increase the rate of material consumption and its cost. Information extracted from Mining Maintenance Management Course. Courtesy of Paul D. Tomlingson

FORECASTING COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS How to Streamline Maintenance Planning and Scheduling   Forecasting is the identification of the most likely future time when major equipment components like engines, transmissions, pumps or conveyor drives may have to be replaced. It is not be an automatic action in which, for example, a component is simply replaced after the accumulation of a certain number of operating hours or the passage of so many weeks. This type of 'guesswork' can result in many 'perfectly good components' are being replaced prematurely only to increase the rate of material consumption and its cost.

Spend More Time in the Field Generating Business Mobile technology that allows real-time information to be collected and shared is changing the face of the construction industry. This technology is being used to track daily activities and critical information, and streamline collaboration between teams in the field and at the office. What's shaking up sales processes in the technology world? Mobile sales solutions. Many sales people love their current manual or isolated quoting processes because they’re easy and have very few constraints. However, the rest of the organization often suffers from the headaches resulting from the lack of visibility or audit trails inherent to these processes, which ultimately negatively impacts your organization’s operational stability and growth plans. If this sounds like your organization, it may be time to investigate automated solutions that are designed specifically for the Heavy Building Materials industry that can empower accurate sales forecasting and minimize quoting inaccuracies. What Can A Mobile Sales Solution Do for My Business? Three problems that a mobile sales solutions address includes: 1) Generating timely and accurate quotes: Roughly 25% of Heavy Building Materials production volume is quoted and shipped within 24 hours. Without real-time information, there is room for unintended errors to easily creep into the process; such as outdated pricing and unauthorized discounts. According to well-regarded research firms, these rebills can cost companies up to 5% of the original transaction value. Progressive Ready-Mix Producers and Bulk Material Suppliers are using mobile sales solutions to more effectively perform quoting, monitoring, and forecasting through an investment that can easily pay for itself by eliminating just a handful of credit and rebill situations. 2) Maintaining realistic pipeline estimates and forecasts: Recent research by the Aberdeen Group shows that only around 55% of companies that do not implement a best-in-class forecasting process achieve their sales quotas, compared to 97% of companies that choose to implement advanced forecasting approaches achieving theirs. With a sales solution in place that provides real-time visibility into both an accurate backlog and an accurate sales forecast, you are empowered to make decisions and adjustments that steer your organization in the right direction on a daily basis (even a hourly basis, if needed) instead of relying on a monthly snapshot of quickly outdated information.  3) Missing opportunities due to lack of visibility in the field: How often does your company miss opportunities simply because a bid date is missed?  Does each sales team member have their own approach to selling, quoting, and closing opportunities?  Is pricing consistency a problem you deal with? With a mobile sales solution designed specifically for the industry in place you can gain the visibility you need to monitor and enforce sales activities and ensure a consistent and professional buying experience to your market. MOBILEsales is Command Alkon’s mobile sales solution for the Heavy Building Materials industry. This tool helps you standardize your sales approach across your team and eliminate issues that arise from inaccuracies and inefficiencies.

No, I’m not talking about piles of leftover debris or even the kind of “trashy” look that’s common on construction sites. While neatness is nice, especially on a highly visible site, the waste I’m referring to is all those insidious, sometimes hidden, wastes that may not look messy but can make a real mess of budget forecasts and construction schedules.Jobsite waste – and the losses it creates – is a serious problem throughout the HBM industry. In fact, according to a 2016 McKinsey study, “Large projects across asset classes typically take 20 percent longer to finish than scheduled and are up to 80 percent over budget.”Most budget overruns are not the result of leftovers or throwaways. Most are a result of squandering 1) time, 2) motion, and/or 3) accuracy. Eliminating waste is an ongoing challenge, but these best practices can help you recognize – and correct – this resource-draining scourge:1) TIME. Wasting time is probably the most common and costly jobsite activity, especially since it’s virtually always unintentional and unobtrusive. What’s the best way to spot it? Recognize that all wait time is wasted time. Any person, place or thing that sits idle or is not ready when needed is generating waste.When workers wait on instructions or tools or equipment or approval or inspection, their time is being wasted. When tools, parts or equipment are unavailable or inoperable, time is being wasted. When one process or procedure is stalled waiting for another to be completed, valuable time is being wasted.Wasted time typically results from inadequate planning, communication or resource allocation, so invest in these time-saving, preventive measures instead:·         Begin with informed planning that includes all pertinent people. Early integration and transparent information sharing improve efficiency at every operational stage.·         Forecast construction schedules, budgets and requirements so that you can realistically anticipate tools, materials and labor.·         Create and communicate contingency plans so that the entire crew stays up to date and in sync.·         Use technology to communicate.  Radios, mobile phones, tablets and other digital tools speed communication and improve clarity.2) MOTION. Going back to the truck to grab another tool, hunting down a colleague for collaboration, moving critical materials or machinery from its current location to where it’s needed, dispatching and transporting workers, even unloading deliveries and distributing parts are all costly operations that reduce productivity. Any unnecessary or unplanned movement of people, equipment, tools or materials wastes valuable time and energy.To minimize wasted motion, use efficient workplace procedures and productivity-enhancing devices:·         Plan ahead to place and prepare critical equipment for use at the point of operation.·         Corral required tools, parts, kits and equipment in well-stocked, well-organized, well-maintained work carts. ·         Equip workers with tool belts, trays, bins and pouches for easy accessibility.·         Use rail-lock aerial accessories (tool bins, pipe racks, cradles, panel carriers, etc.) when working on scissor lifts, boom lifts or other platforms for safe, secure, fast access.·         Use communications technology to locate misplaced or misappropriated resources. ·         Designate a worker to make deliveries and tools runs as needed.3) ACCURACY. Precision in quality control, inventory management, and maintenance and replacement programs is vital for preventing wasted materials and labor. Symptoms of sloppy jobsite practices include tasks that can’t be done due to damaged, defective or missing materials; rework due to poor quality or specification mismatches; “shrink” due to lost or stolen tools or inventory; breakage due to careless handling or improper use; and mistakes in ordering, stocking, storing, handling and accounting for materials.Verifying resources and quality takes attention and vigilance. These common-sense practices can bring valuable order and discipline to your jobsite: ·         Make sure all workers have a clear project understanding, including the latest drawings, specifications and contingency plans.·         Lock up tools and equipment at days’ end and when not in use.·         Remove and replace damaged tools or materials immediately.·         Designate a specific person to order, inspect, label and monitor materials, especially near job’s end, to avoid leftover inventory.Are time and resources going to waste on your jobsite? Command Alkon helps make fast work of unnecessary jobsite losses. To reduce the costs, risks, and waste that result from out-of-stock and over-stock situations, inefficient hauling practices, and lack of transparency, the HBM industry relies on Command Alkon’s supplyCONNECT to manage daily replenishment plans. By promoting collaboration among supply chain trading partners, supplyCONNECT saves money and time – ensuring that the right amount of inventory is delivered to the right place at the right time. 

                  No, I’m not talking about piles of leftover debris or even the kind of “trashy” look that’s common on construction sites. While neatness is nice, especially on a highly visible site, the waste I’m referring to is all those insidious, sometimes hidden, wastes that may not look messy but can make a real mess of budget forecasts and construction schedules.Jobsite waste – and the losses it creates – is a serious problem throughout the HBM industry. In fact, according to a 2016 McKinsey study, “Large projects across asset classes typically take 20 percent longer to finish than scheduled and are up to 80 percent over budget.”Most budget overruns are not the result of leftovers or throwaways. Most are a result of squandering 1) time, 2) motion, and/or 3) accuracy. Eliminating waste is an ongoing challenge, but these best practices can help you recognize – and correct – this resource-draining scourge:1) TIME. Wasting time is probably the most common and costly jobsite activity, especially since it’s virtually always unintentional and unobtrusive. What’s the best way to spot it? Recognize that all wait time is wasted time. Any person, place or thing that sits idle or is not ready when needed is generating waste.When workers wait on instructions or tools or equipment or approval or inspection, their time is being wasted. When tools, parts or equipment are unavailable or inoperable, time is being wasted. When one process or procedure is stalled waiting for another to be completed, valuable time is being wasted.Wasted time typically results from inadequate planning, communication or resource allocation, so invest in these timesaving preventive measures instead:1) TIME. Wasting time is probably the most common and costly jobsite activity, especially since it’s virtually always unintentional and unobtrusive. What’s the best way to spot it? Recognize that all wait time is wasted time. Any person, place or thing that sits idle or is not ready when needed is generating waste.When workers wait on instructions or tools or equipment or approval or inspection, their time is being wasted. When tools, parts or equipment are unavailable or inoperable, time is being wasted. When one process or procedure is stalled waiting for another to be completed, valuable time is being wasted.Wasted time typically results from inadequate planning, communication or resource allocation, so invest in these timesaving preventive measures instead:Begin with informed planning that includes all pertinent people. Early integration and transparent information sharing improve efficiency at every operational stage.Forecast construction schedules, budgets and requirements so that you can realistically anticipate tools, materials and labor.Create and communicate contingency plans so that the entire crew stays up to date and in sync.Use technology to communicate.  Radios, mobile phones, tablets and other digital tools speed communication and improve clarity. 2) MOTION. Going back to the truck to grab another tool, hunting down a colleague for collaboration, moving critical materials or machinery from its current location to where it’s needed, dispatching and transporting workers, even unloading deliveries and distributing parts are all costly operations that reduce productivity. Any unnecessary or unplanned movement of people, equipment, tools or materials wastes valuable time and energy.To minimize wasted motion, use efficient workplace procedures and productivity-enhancing devices:Plan ahead to place and prepare critical equipment for use at the point of operation.Corral required tools, parts, kits and equipment in well-stocked, well-organized, well-maintained work carts.Equip workers with tool belts, trays, bins and pouches for easy accessibility.Use rail-lock aerial accessories (tool bins, pipe racks, cradles, panel carriers, etc.) when working on scissor lifts, boom lifts or other platforms for safe, secure, fast access.Use communications technology to locate misplaced or misappropriated resources.Designate a worker to make deliveries and tools runs as needed.3) ACCURACY. Precision in quality control, inventory management, and maintenance and replacement programs is vital for preventing wasted materials and labor. Symptoms of sloppy jobsite practices include tasks that can’t be done due to damaged, defective or missing materials; rework due to poor quality or specification mismatches; “shrink” due to lost or stolen tools or inventory; breakage due to careless handling or improper use; and mistakes in ordering, stocking, storing, handling and accounting for materials.Verifying resources and quality takes attention and vigilance. These common-sense practices can bring valuable order and discipline to your jobsite:Make sure all workers have a clear project understanding, including the latest drawings, specifications and contingency plans.Lock up tools and equipment at days’ end and when not in use.Remove and replace damaged tools or materials immediately.Designate a specific person to order, inspect, label and monitor materials, especially near job’s end, to avoid leftover inventory.Are time and resources going to waste on your bsite? Command Alkon helps make fast work of unnecessary jobsite losses.To reduce the costs, risks, and waste that result from out-of-stock and over-stock situations, inefficient hauling practices, and lack of transparency, the HBM industry relies on Command Alkon’s supplyCONNECT to manage daily replenishment plans. By promoting collaboration among supply chain trading partners, supplyCONNECT saves money and time – ensuring that the right amount of inventory is delivered to the right place at the right time.

The availability of skilled mining workers is a common struggle in many countries throughout the world, impacting mining productivity, safety and ultimately profitability. Many countries are forecasting dire shortages in the coming years due to unskilled talent pools, an aging workforce and increased mining production. The development of training programs is a key focus for governments, mines and educational institutions. In support of this industry challenge, Immersive Technologies’ solutions have proven to be vital at numerous training centers around the world. In this case study one customer shows how the introduction of a simulation based training center accelerated operator learning and retention. Over the past five years this type of training center has been on the rise for Immersive Technologies. More case studies are available by emailing [email protected]

An in-depth analysis of the issues driving the market for aggregates including an overview of the FAST Act and wide-ranging effects it will have on the industry. Vital reading.

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Concrete Products' insightful forecast of the business climate for the concrete industry complete with an in-depth overview of the economic and regulatory issues impacting the concrete industry.

International Lead and Zinc Study Group's (ILZSG) 2015 overview of the market's supply and demand for lead and zing along with a forecast of the market for 2016.

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An annual overview and a look forward from the National Precast Concrete Association.

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