Kategori: Uncategorized

If you are not keeping scores, you are not in the game!

Establishing and measuring success metrics is an important skill for business managers in order to monitor and evaluate the company performance. In this study, we discuss the importance of business metrics for readymix concrete industry, as well as which metrics should be tracked to achieve the company goals.

The key productivity ratios of any readymix concrete business can be easily monitored. Benchmarking by monitoring productivity performance can assist the plant manager in several ways.

He can; decide the optimum number of mixer trucks and drivers for each operation, determine the ideal mixer truck and load size, design a main tenance plan that does not adversely impact concrete production and delivery, implement a mixer truck driver scheduling plan that keeps the employeers happy, maximize customer service and minimize unproductive time.

This eBook was prepared for readymix companies to calculate and compare key ratios to measure and monitor their productivity. By using the benchmarking, managers can determine where the company is and take action for where they  want to be!

The study consists of following sections; success metrics, driver and fleet availability, driver and fleet productivity, efficient use of mixer trucks, effective dispatch planning, operational productivity factors, safety benchmarking, mixer truck maintenance and productivity, driver and productivity.

Timucin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

 

 

What does business development mean for a readymix company?

There are some firms which are not performing well where the others working in the same area are booming. For sure, many reasons may behind that, but who know this? The answer is very simple!

The business development manager. He identifies, develops, and services customers and markets, in addition to successful sales projects and planning, customer service, generation of new business, retainment of existing business and participation in public/community relations for assigned territories. Today, business development is intertwined with many marketing and sales functions and has the main duty to alert the manegement in case of any differentiation from the business plan.

What are the main driving factors of readymix concrete market?

The expansion of the construction industry contributes to the expansion of the readymix market. The increase in income in developed and developing nations has ramped up the construction of structures and housing structures, resulting in high demand for concrete. The population increase has a primarily positive impact on the readymix concrete market due to the increased need for resi dential buildings. Urbanization has also results in the expansion of infrastruc ture facilities, a major factor in the growth of the market for readymix concrete.

Should somebody in the readymix companies monitor this developments!

The aim of this eBook is to look at the developments in and out the readymix companies for surviving or growing from a different perspective. This study consists of following chapters; readymix concrete, success and unsuccess, improve your business, technology in readymix, readymix erp, preparing business plan, job descriptions, swot analysis, sales and marketing.

Timucin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

Returned concrete is a reality and a liability in the readymix concrete industry! It is estimated that the returned concrete from the sites vary from 1 to 3 percent of the volume manufactured at the plant. On the other hand managing the fresh concrete leftovers in the truck mixers and concrete pumps is a daily problem that readymix concrete industries have to cope with.

Beyond the environmental aspect and the obligations arising from legislation, the more important issue is the economy. Typical traditional practices such as disposal of the residual concrete on the ground or in tanks and their management at a later time as dried concrete, among other negatives, are no longer economically unprofitable.

New technologies offer a complete and profitable solutions to this problem and with absolute certainty that the cost of investment will sooner or later be amortized by the benefits of the solution. One of modern solutions for returned concrete is the recycling plant. However, recycling systems are not widespread enough in medium-sized readymix concrete facilities due to the operating cost rather than the investment cost.

The employment of unproductive personnel increases the cost of per m3 of concrete! Who will run the recycling facility and who should be responsible from the system? Should we ask the batchplant operator to do this job? The main question is, whether the success in recycling plants really depends on one responsible person or should we train all mixer drivers returning from the sites or what?

The aim of this eBook is to look at the issue from a different perspective. The study consists of following sections; returned concrete, returned concrete management, rinsing mixer drum, why recycling, mechanical recovery, fresh concrete recycling, filter press, tips for the operators and recycle aggregates in new concrete.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

Protect the environment not just to punish but to be sustainable!

Concrete is the world’s most widely used construction material due to its versatility. Every year, more than 10 billion m3 concrete are produced at the batching plants for urban development. Together with projects it is estimated that total 20 billion m3 of concrete are manufactured all over the world.

It’s important that the concrete is made close to where it is used as it generally only lasts ninety minutes before it starts to harden. That’s why there are concrete batch plants in and around the communities. And concrete batch plants play an important role in our daily lives.

The environmental affects of concrete batch plants is very important subject in and outside the plants. These issues can only be managed through a structured environmental management system.

The environmental risks associated with operating concrete batch plant can only be controlled using a risk management approach. The objective of risk management is to enable people to assess all the factors to minimize risk of harm to the environment. This approach will help people make a judgement about the risks and put the appropriate control measures.

This eBook aims to provide basic knowledge to all related responsibles at the concrete batch plants to help them comply with their general environmental duty by outlining; readymix processes, readymix concrete, water management, solid materials, chemical and fuel, spill response for trucks, air quality, noise manage ment, environmental management and employee training.

Each concrete batch plant will be slightly different in design and layout but the common attributes of a plant that demonstrates good environmental performance are more or the less the same.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

The wheel loader is a vital machine for any ready mixed concrete plant.

The main function of wheel loader is to shovel and load loose materials and transport them in short distance. It has the advantages of fast operation speed, high efficiency, good maneuverability and easy operation. Any batching plant machine park would be incomplete without a wheel loader. What wheel loaders are, how they work and what kinds of tasks they can help with in readymix batching plants will be explained briefly in this e-Book.

Wheel loaders are used for different purposes in ready mixed facilities. There is a lot of material movement and loading which is done routine or continuous, special or sometimes. Major tasks to be carried out by a wheel loader at a batching plant are mixing and handling of aggregates, truck loading, backfilling and bush clearing, lifting of materials, towing for recovery, etc.

Although there are many types of mobile machines that can be used for these jobs, wheel loaders are preferred because of their high mobility and versality. The mobility of wheel loaders is a very important reason for preference for ready-mixed concrete plants. This machine can be used inside and the outside of the facility, if necessary.

A wheel loader that is not well taken care of and not used properly can cause fatal accidents in ready mixed concrete plants, to plant equipment, to company trucks, the supplier’s trucks carrying aggregate and cement etc. On the other hand, in case of malfunction, the operation of the plant is at risk. If the wheel loader is out of work, it can cause great losses to the plant.

The wheel loader operator is generally responsible for the safe and proper handling, loading and storage of aggregate materials and for the proper care and maintenance of the machine.

However, since the wheel loader will not be given a full-time job for production in ready mixed concrete plants, the operator is also expected to assist with other tasks with or without the machine such as maintenance of ready-mix plant equipment and for general housekeeping of plant property and premises.

This e-Book has been prepared for general information purposes. It is intended for the use of wheel loader operators, production and safety professionals and other related plant personnel. The study covers following chapters; what is wheel loader, operating wheel loaders, inspection of wheel loader, working at batchplant, other loader works, loader maintenance, work safely, hazard control, loader operatör, etc.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

 

What does a concrete batch plant operator do?

Contemporary concrete plants and innovations have been made more complicated the plant operator’s job. However, reduced the demand for physical labor and improved the batching accuracy, efficiency and versality of the avarage plant.

Qualification of the operator should be based on knowledge of the basic of concrete and the proper operation of the equipment. The other specifications of qualified operator; thorough knowledge of all aspects of batching operations, communication and leadership skills, proficient understanding of computer programs and systems related to the job, physical condition capable of performing labor in all weather conditions, conscientious and organized for an efficient work environment, capable of performing a variety of clerical duties, hand-eye coordination needed for manual labor, ability to work in a team toward a common goal,etc.

It is obvious that the design of concrete mixtures is not the operator’s responsibility. The operator will be given the required concrete proportions and that it is his duty to accurately produce the concrete based on the mix design formulas.

The operator’s duties include setting the mixing rates, unit weights, volumes and yields to customer or plant specifications, monitoring the mixing process and performing quality assurance tests during and after the batching operations.

The operator’s duties may also include other functions associated with maintenance, transport, logistics, order processing, ensuring the order is prepared for transport in a mixer truck and documenting daily production reports, etc.

The purpose of this eBook is to provide basic background and information required for running batch plants and manufacturing the concrete.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

No plant is designed to run without regular maintenance!

Maintenance is result oriented and the cornerstone of economic work.

Due to the continuous operation of the concrete batching plants; all items are subject to high degree of wear and tear. Therefore keeping a batch plant in good condition always requires regular maintenance.

Maintenance in any concrete batch plant refers to the process of ensuring a certain machines, components or systems is in good and working order before and after use. The main goal and purpose of maintenance is to keep all equipment working at their best at all times. To achieve this, it is important to avoid unnecessary downtime, replacements, and breakdowns as much as possible.

Another purpose of performing maintenance at a concrete batch plant is to ensure a safe working environment. Defective parts can lead to potential hazards that can, directly and indirectly, harm the operatör and his assistance also other workers. In extreme cases, equipment failure can lead to accidents that cause injuries or fatalities.

In addition to safety concerns, another purpose of maintenance is to prevent unnecessary costs. Repairs and replacements can be much more expensive than conducting maintenance and downtime can lead to lost revenue and decreased productivity. Neglecting or deferring maintenance can also result in equipment components reaching the end of their useful life much sooner than expected, possibly causing unplanned expenses.

This ebook aims to emphasize the importance of the maintenance at concrete batching plants and consists of following sections. Importance of care, plant maintenance, periodic maintenance, mechanical systems, pneumatic systems, filter system, lubrication, calibration, central mixer maintenance and troubleshooting.

With many different plant configurations and batching and control mechanisms in service, it is impossible to cover every piece of equipment from a maintenance standpoint. Concrete plant manufacturers often provide maintenance manuals for the purchased equipment. But many concrete plants are built, customized and upgraded. Therefore this study addresses general maintenance considerations that apply to most plants.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

No driver thinks to become involved in an accident at any readymix company. Nevertheless, it does happen and when it does you want to be able to get the vehicle repaired and bring to its working condition in a timely manner. Therefore you should put it in your ‘to do list’ as the manager of readymix batch plant.

It is generally frustrating to encounter any form of mixer or other truck trouble, especially if you need its usefulness on an operationtly basis and moreover if you have made a firm dispatch program with limited fleet.

You may run a small scale concrete plant or a local part of a large company. Any mechanical or electrical failure can put the vehicles out of service. In such cases, you must have a repairshop in hand for emergency interventions.

For major faults, you can send the vehicle to the central workshop if you are in a network of a large company or to the external service if you are an individual company. However, you will definitely need a repairshop for small interventions to put the vehicle again in to the operation.

Everyone in readymix knows that everything is evaluated within the cost of m3 concrete. But do you know how much share of workshop regardless in and out service is in the cost of m3 concrete price? And more important how can you reduce this amount? And also how the workshop can become a ‘profit center’ for the company rather than a cost place.

Small or large, how many mechanics can you employ at the workshop? Is there a relation btw the number of trucks and the mechanics?

Repair is important but safety at readymix workshops is more important. Because things need to be faster than other workshops. And mechanics are responsible several and different works rather than their proficiencies. For example they should be able to execute small welding and painting works.

This e-book aims to supply basic knowledge of workshop for readymix companies and consists of following chapters. Planning a repairshop, layout of repairshop, the role of driver, preventive maintenance, scheduled maintenance, workshop safety, housekeeping at workshop area , flammable fluids, welding works, working on/under vehicle.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

Safety is, no doubt, the top priority for ready mixed concrete companies!

There are stationary plants such as batching and recycling and mobile vehicles such as mixer trucks, wheel loader and cement tanker as well as dump truck in the facility. All of them are constantly in motion within the same area and the system works like a beehive.

Therefore, safety trainings and precautions are important issues for every readymix companies.

Although it is the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe working atmosphere, it is also a clear duty of all employees to keep the safety culture alive in all working areas. Here, at first glance, many things seem to be done for the company, but safety is actually an individual matter and fire burns where it falls!

Each manager of all levels in the readymix companies, should be considered as a safety leader and must have enough knowledge about safety. Also, everyone working at the facility should be part of the security team. First of all, whether you’re an operator, mixer and truck driver or a manager even the company owner, you should obey the safety rules when you’re in operative area.

In the event of an emergency, most employees want to do the right thing. But it is difficult if they do not know what they are supposed to do. That is why safety trainings is so important. Periodic refresher training courses are also important for ensuring that employees make good decisions when an emergency happens.  Also, records are important for monitoring and controlling what happens on the plant site.

Do not forget!

• Working safely today is a reward for tomorrow.
• Safety protects accidents and lessen the costs.
• Learning safety by accident is the most expensive way!

This e-book was prepared for everybody who enter into the operative area in readymix facilities. And covers following chapters; safety in the facility, stationary plants, mobile vehicles, repair&maintenance, lone worker, traffic in the facility, housekeeping of the facility, weather conditions, safety culture.

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387

 

 

Number two is over, run and take from the neighbor!

Could the stress level of the facility manager be related to the amount of material? Do you have the fear of running out of materials, how can you overcome it? What effect can overstocking of materials have on the profitability of a ready mixed concrete company?

How keeping excess stock on hand affect the cost per m3?
How much stock can be considered as a guaranty or make the facility manager feels good. Material for a few days, for a few weeks or for a few months. How do these stocks affect the efficiency of the concrete plant?

How long can we keep the cement in stock? Can the customer request fresh cement for fresh concrete. Whether this have any implications on quality? Is it true that the cement waited for a month loses its properties by 10%? Does the stock aggregate deteriorate? What is the normal waiting time of aggregate on stock, what happens if it waits much more?

How reliable is the recycled material? Whether the additional personnel is needed to operate the recycling facility? How do the mixer drivers and pump operators use the recycle plant?

How can we measure the stock situation to work without stress? With the cameras placed on the wheel loader and the poles in the field
or using drones for large facilities?

Should we visit from time to time the quarries where we get the aggregates? Can this be done both as a regular customer visit and to see the current situation? Because the quarry, which we are very satisfied with, may have reached a bad vein and the quality of the material may have decreased. Should the quarry responsibles tell us this?

The 5% deviation in the inventory in some industries is considered as a magic number. What does this mean for the ready mixed concrete industry, is it a big problem? On the other hand, is it possible to work lean in ready-mixed concrete? How can the loss of production and sales be insured due to lack of material?

Facility managers have had a difficult job in the past, but it seems that it will not be easy also in the future. The only difference here is in the manager profile and now the era of dinosaur managers is coming to end and the transformation has already begun in order to move to a modern and digital era that works on big data and understands the technologies…

This nine-chapter e-book covers following subjects; readymix concrete, raw materials, inventory management, cement supply, water management, recycled materials, optimization, lean management and sustainability.

 

Timuçin Özsöylev

ozsoylev@mail.com

WhatsApp : +90 532-4161387