Driving down the costs

643 Cemex has reported reduced machine operating costs following introduction of Eco-Drive training for its operators in the UK. So far 350 equipment operators have undergone 3006 Finning’s Eco-Drive programme which aims to educate trainees on the best way to use a machine to minimise fuel costs and maximise productivity.

Cemex has charted the benefits by tracking data from its operations, pre and post training. Eco-Drive project manager and Cemex UK’s national operations project manager, Craig Hooper has seen the benefits Eco-Drive has delivered for the business first hand.

“We know that at every one of our sites across the UK we have benefitted from efficiency savings in both litres per tonne and plant maintenance,” explained Hooper. “From a financial return perspective the time and resources invested in the training has already more than paid for itself.

“The training has instilled a culture shift into the everyday running of the business.  Energy, a topic we have talked about for years, is one of the issues at the forefront of everyone’s thinking as they can see the financial and environmental benefits of good practice.

“A great example of this is the competition that has now developed between operators at sites to see who is the most fuel efficient, with the lowest cost per litre, making a serious topic fun.”

“It is this legacy that will ultimately keep on rewarding our investment, year on year and from the response of operators, the training is something they will come back to time and time again.”

As Finning’s largest Eco-Drive programme user to date Cemex UK has worked with the Finning team to develop the programme delivery across its operations. Commenting on the training rollout, Finning strategic account manager Robert Powell said, “We first introduced Cemex to the Eco-Drive concept at an equipment management seminar following their energy efficiency days in 2009. Craig and his team recognised the potential of rolling out the programme to the company’s quarrying and aggregates plant operators and so worked with us to see how we could best achieve this.

“In order to have a structured rollout process we initially participated in an event with Cemex’s site operators, demonstrating the programme. We then jointly organised five site days at the company’s facilities, training operatives on specific techniques relevant to the equipment they were using.

“The remaining operators benefitted from a number of training days at 395 Caterpillar’s Desford visitor and demonstration centre in Leicester. This allowed us to train all 350 participants over a number of months to give Cemex the opportunity to involve everyone in the process.”