How to Increase the Productivity of Your Construction Equipment

Did you know that it’s a lot easier to improve the productivity of your construction equipment than your workers?

Do you know why?  Here is the answer:

• Construction equipment never argues with you.
• It’s always on time.
• A mechanic can always fix the problem if it’s not working.

We spend so much time trying to figure out ways to improve construction worker productivity that we forget about construction equipment productivity.  If fact, construction equipment will be one of the biggest costs on your next job.

Here are some expert tips on how to get the most out of the equipment at your construction site.

Consider Your Options: Owning vs. Renting

When it comes to construction equipment, you will want to figure out if owning or renting is a better option.

To do this, you will need to look at the hourly cost of owning vs. renting.  This will help you figure out what is better.  Obviously, you’ll only want to purchase equipment that you use on a regular basis.

Also be sure to tell workers about the hourly cost of equipment rentals.  Tell them how it affects the bottom line and their salaries.  This will help them to use construction equipment more efficiently and effectively.

Remember to remind them about the hourly cost of the machinery.  This will help to keep rental costs down.

Monitor Productivity

Like anything else, you need to keep productivity records of your construction equipment.  This will help to make sure that you’re getting the most out of equipment on site.

Keep track of how long equipment is in use and how long it is idle.  Your employees will have to help with this.  Also keep track of how long it takes to accomplish particular jobs.  This will help you figure out if the construction equipment is being used effectively.

As you start to examine the productivity of your equipment, look for ways to better utilize its productivity.  This means making sure your equipment is not idle.

Create Schedules

If you want to maximize the productivity of your construction equipment, you need to create schedules.  This will help you rotate construction equipment between different job sites.  It will also help to eliminate any idle time with the construction equipment.

You can use computer software to help keep track of construction equipment schedules.  Microsoft Excel works well to help with schedules.  If you prefer pen and paper, use that.  It all depends on your comfort level with computers.

When keeping a schedule, be sure to regularly update it based on the location of the piece of equipment.  If you do not have time to keep track, delegate this responsibility to your employees to fill out on a regular basis.

Keep Track of Maintenance

One of the biggest costs of construction equipment involves maintenance and repair.  If you want to cut down on maintenance costs, you need to keep track of maintenance records.

Have a maintenance schedule set up where workers take care of routine issues with all construction equipment.  This will increase the life of the equipment.  It also will identify potential problems before they get out of hand.

For outside repairs, be sure to do your research on parts stores and repair people.  This will help to keep costs low.  If you do a lot of the repairs yourself, be sure to keep a supply of parts for routine maintenance.  This will help to save time when construction equipment is on site.

Use The Right Equipment

When you start a new job, you want to use the best equipment possible.  A lot of times, people will use the best available equipment.  This is not a good idea.  While the most readily available equipment will save you money upfront, it may take you longer to get the job done.

Before selecting any equipment for a job, do a cost analysis.  This will help you determine the right construction equipment for the job.  Using outdated equipment could add a significant amount of time on a particular task.

The end goal is to save time on tasks.  So be sure to use the right equipment for the job.

Summary

Following these tips will help you improve the productivity of your construction equipment on your next job.

To successfully use these tips you need to be highly organized.  Take some time to organize yourself before starting any job.  It may initially seem like a waste of your time, but it will save you lots of time in the long run.

For more ways on saving time and money, read the Hue & Cry Security Systems blog.  You’ll get lots of great tips specifically for contractors.

If you’re in need of a low voltage security contractor, feel free to contact us.  We help general, electrical and mechanical contractors with their fire, camera and security needs.

Give us a call today at (800) 762-3196 or visit the Hue & Cry Contact Page.