Improving Accuracy and Productivity for Wheel Loaders — Volvo Load Assist: Part 3

PART THREE: OPERATOR COACHING

This is the final part of our series on Load Assist, the Volvo program that provides wheel loader operators real-time payload data and other machine information. In part one, I covered the differences between 1% and 2% accuracy modes, and part two I went more in depth on On-Board Weighing and how the app makes operators more accurate to improve profitability.

In this post, I’m sharing the overview and benefits of Operator Coaching. Currently we offer two versions: Operator Coaching Start, which is included as standard with Dig Assist, and optional Operator Coaching Advanced with additional productivity and efficiency features.

Machines are becoming more advanced with smarter technology, so our Operator Coaching apps help ensure operators use their Volvo wheel loader to its full potential. They provide real-time guidance to operators, helping them understand how their actions influence their productivity and efficiency, as well as identify areas for improvement or changes in their driving technique.

Operator Coaching really takes the interface between the machine and the operator to a new level. When an operator is working, it’s hard to monitor important performance metrics like idle times and fuel use. But with Operator Coaching, an operator’s performance can be reviewed, and adjustments can be made for future projects.

OPERATOR COACHING START: SETTING OPERATOR GOALS

You can set up goals for each operator and save them. When an operator signs in and opens Operator Coaching Start, he can see his goals. You can set up:

Idling over active time (e.g., no more than 25%) – The percentage of operating time the machine is standing still while in neutral. Construction machines often excessively idle up to 40 to 50% of their operating time.
Braking over distance (e.g., no more than 40%) – Use of the service brakes should be minimized to reduce machine wear and fuel consumption.
Throttle position (e.g., 50% or less) – Excessive throttle equals excessive fuel consumption.
Amount of lock-up achieved (e.g., 75% or more) – Lock-up engagement reduces fuel consumption and increases productivity by maintaining a higher wheel speed in challenging terrain.

The white inner line indicates the target area, and the outer line indicates the current achieved value since the last reset. When the circle is yellow, the operator is above 50% of his target, orange is below 50% and green means he’s inside his target range.

ON-THE-FLY NOTIFICATIONS

As the operator is working, pop-ups will periodically notify him of how he’s doing. Co-Pilot gives the operator on-the-fly advice to improve his performance, which translates to improved profitability. Examples include:

If he didn’t have boom suspension activated and he’s driving around, a notification on Co-Pilot would say, “Please activate boom suspension to improve your productivity.”
If he was driving around all morning in second gear and not using automatic, a notification would say, “Please put the transmission in automatic to improve your fuel efficiency.” When he’s finished for the day, he can review what he achieved for the day and see if he achieved 80 or 90% of his goal. If he ended the day at 10 or 15% of his goal, then the goal may be set too high, or he may not be paying attention to the advice from the machine to adjust.
If he needs to engage lock-up to decrease fuel consumption, a notification would say, “Activate lock-up by pressing the lock-up switch.”

With information like this available at their fingertips, operators can work in a way that delivers optimum fuel efficiency and reduced machine wear. Simple adjustments can make big-time improvements to productivity over the course of a year.

OPERATOR COACHING — LEVELED UP

Operator Coaching Start includes a host of advanced features, including two views. The Productivity View allows operators to monitor tons moved per gallon, tons moved per hour and fuel consumed per hour. This can be displayed as a total for the entire work shift, including idle time, or only for the active work. It can also be broken down according to short cycles or load and carry cycles.

A Utilization View displays an overview of the time spent, productivity achieved and fuel consumed during different tasks (e.g., the amount of fuel consumed by travel or the percentage of time spent idling). Another feature is called Operator Tips. This provides feedback at the end of a shift, including a QR code that links to a relevant instructional video on anything that can be improved.

Quick Tips is another tool that shows messages on how to use specific apps and functions found within the Volvo Co-Pilot display.

KNOW THE SWITCHES

Another handy part of Operator Coaching Start is an interactive feedback feature for the switches in the cab. If the operator presses a switch on the “A” post, it’ll pop up on the screen and tell him what that switch does.

OPERATOR COACHING ADVANCED (REQUIRES ON-BOARD WEIGHING)

This optional advanced operator assist app helps operators improve productivity and efficiency even further. Key features of the app include:

Main View (also available on Start): Gives the operator an overview of the utilization of the machine and the usage of the brakes, throttle and lock-up (for machines equipped with lock-up option).
Interactive Guide (also available on Start): The operator can interactively press the buttons on the A-pillar and receive a description of that function in the Co-pilot.
Productivity View: By displaying ton/liter, ton/hour and liter/hour, the operator gains insight into his or her productivity. The operator can select and view the productivity data by “load and carry” or “short cycle loading,” as well as the total operating time.
Utilization View: The operator receives insights into the amount of time or fuel spent at different activities — idling, transport, short cycle, load and carry and other work.
Operator Tips: The operator can receive feedback on what to improve and what’s already working well in their operating behavior. The operator also will be advised to watch short instruction videos, depending on the required areas of improvement, by scanning a QR-code with a smart phone or tablet.

When starting a work-shift, the operator receives a pop-up message with compiled information on the previous work shift and feedback on their operating behavior based on their historical performance.

These Operator Coaching apps are great examples of the types of future apps you can expect for the Volvo Assist programs. Every app we develop and launch at Volvo will be dedicated to helping customers improve their productivity, efficiency, safety and, ultimately, their profits.

Learn more about Operator Coaching, and be sure to check back for future posts covering even more exciting Load Assist apps from Volvo.

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