Panel members on emerging technologies at Caterpillar’s Construction and Technology Day, pictured from left: Shay Stutzman, James Bennett, Bryce Uhle and Tyler Flynn. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
Now, more than ever, high-tech features in construction equipment that were once “emerging” seem to be becoming the standard.
With advances like these, it’s more important than ever to ask yourself, “Is my company keeping up, or falling behind?”
At Caterpillar’s Construction and Technology Day held at its Edwards, Illinois facility, seven U.S. construction companies were featured as panelists to discuss the issue and provide end users and business owners in attendance with detailed guidance on how they can level up their companies with the right technology.
Members of the panel are James Bennett of Otto Baum, Robert Gaines Blackwell of Partners Excavating, Curtis Blank Jr. of Associated Terminals, Tyler Flynn of Savage, Shay Stutsman of Stutsman Gerbaz, Bryce Wuori of Pavewise and Justin Spates of Luck Stone.
New technology to assist with childbirth, not “Big Brother”
Throughout the discussion, the seven panelists frequently encouraged shipowners and managers to take an active role in implementing new technology for their crews and fleets, emphasizing the importance of using modern data and work tracking software as an ally rather than an intrusive monitoring system.
Perhaps the technology that is perceived as the most intrusive to operators and workers is the software that monitors machines and the work site.
“This is not a Big Brother tool,” echoed Justin Speights, president of Lack Stone Co., a manufacturer of crushed stone and aggregates, who added that anyone who installs surveillance software with the intent of spying on employees is likely to face strong backlash from workers.
“[Implementation of technology] “If you do it that way, you’re really doomed to failure,” he said.
Instead, Speights encouraged crews to get involved in understanding how the data is analyzed and used. He said doing so will improve productivity, especially as operators become more aware of the good and bad behaviors that lead to data alerts.
Cat Visionlink experts discuss the program with visitors during the welcome dinner at Caterpillar Construction and Technology Days. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
For example, an operator may have excessive idle time on Monday – with that information, an administrator can work with the operator to see why the machine was idle for longer than expected and use a proactive solution to limit the idle time on Tuesday.
“We’re using this as a training opportunity, a development opportunity,” Speights explained.
Pavewise’s Bryce Wuori also encourages contractors to avoid being “Big Brother” to their employees — one of at least six Orwellian references he makes when discussing data software. He said using toolsets to encourage proactive use of machines and shop floor time leads to better results.
“We found the team, and they were successful,” Uoli said, adding that afterwards, managers were able to praise the workers while also showing them exactly what they had done right.
What they did “right” could be anything, such as reducing idle time, operating the machine in a way that reduces average fuel consumption, or limiting movements that destroy the machine.
By the next shift, another team, having heard the data-driven results, wanted to perform better than the previous team.
“We were taking full advantage of the density incentives in our project. [and] “They were so efficient that they could even take the roller off the mat because they were working so efficiently with the other crew members,” he said of the workers’ performance after introducing some healthy data-driven competition. “Every worker wants to be on the A-Team, right?”
The same goes for cameras in vehicles and on the job site: Operators initially opposed the installation of the cameras, but their opposition changed once they realized the significant safety benefits they offered, the committee said. Cameras that can identify the outside environment and determine whether an operator is distracted were widely accepted once their purpose was fully explained, committee members said.
“Cameras tend to evoke a certain kind of negative thinking,” Uhri acknowledged, “but our team members are now comfortable with full acceptance. Some drivers and operators will not operate the equipment unless the camera is activated.”
Remote operation must be performed with care. A Caterpillar operator (right) remotely controls an excavator (left) at the OEM’s demonstration and training facility in Edwards, Illinois, USA. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
A big change in machine operation over the last decade is the ability to control machines remotely.
This is a potential game-changer for the construction industry, but it comes with high upfront costs and some uncertainty.
For Curtis Blank of Associated Terminals, a Louisiana-based port handling and terminal operator, using Cat Command (a remotely operated platform) to handle the unique nature of his company’s work: unloading cargo from barges on the Mississippi River was a common sense approach.
“Our goal is to keep workers out of harm’s way,” Blank said, noting that remote control allows workers to monitor heavy lifts away from barges and cranes.
Due in part to the specialized nature of their work, skilled labor is often in short supply, a situation that has worsened during the pandemic, Blank said.
“The ability to leverage the workforce dynamically and reach different sites without having to send people 150 miles away became extremely valuable and we started to scale from there,” he said.
But what’s common sense for Associated Terminals may not be common sense for everyone, and even Blank says he’s eager to see remote capabilities start to implement 3D planning, which would give operators more control and limit accidents and damages compared to current 2D planning software.
“We’ve set up safety zones, benchmarks,” he said. “Areas on the ship where you can do damage have steel floors and a lot of structures. The 2D aspect helps us at least set some thresholds.”
Now, Blank is eagerly awaiting new updates to the existing technology: “When 3D comes along, it will be another game changer for us,” he said.
Contractors use modern technology to retain and hire employees
That technology in construction can be a bridge to encourage new workers to enter the industry is a statement that’s been made so often that it may feel like a cliché.
However, all panelists noted that the adoption of modern construction techniques has created a notable difference between the existing and future workforce.
Regarding the grade control technology, Shay Stutzman of Stutzman-Gerbaz Earthmoving said, “Now that we have all of this in place, our employee retention is extremely high.
“In fact, we’re seeing more applications than ever before as more people want to operate the equipment.”
Grade control for bulldozers and excavators has been around for decades, but today’s programs are easier to use and more accurate than ever before.
An overnight demonstration at Caterpillar’s “Tech Days” showcased the company’s various technology initiatives in real time. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
Instead of having to concentrate on physically controlling the machine to cut the right grade, the worker can simply input the necessary information into the machine and let it do the work.
Stutzman noted that this saves time, costs and operator fatigue.
“They want to be part of the process. There are new toys and technology. [and] “It’s really great to see how our operators have mastered the technology and how many of them want to work for us because of it,” he said.
Overall, Stutzman estimates that the payback for the investment in the latest grade control machinery will come in about a year.
“If you can get a payback period in under a year, it’s a no-brainer,” he says. “It’s not about the cost, it’s about the savings.”
Meanwhile, Blank said that as his company invests in construction technology, it is also seeing access to new labor pools.
“Obviously, we want to open up the workforce as widely as possible, and in South Louisiana, the workforce has traditionally been male operators,” he acknowledged, “but we’ve found that we’re able to tap into other labor markets. Now we have women who want to operate machines for us.”
Blank said remote technology also opens doors for workers with physical limitations.
“We’ve had employees with disabilities in the past and have been able to accommodate them,” he added.
Technology may be scary (and expensive), but it’s worth the investment
Ultimately, not every tech solution will work for every construction company, but there are certainly modern tools out there that can benefit even smaller businesses.
Rather than delaying the inevitable, contractors and construction companies would be wise to invest in the right technology now, or risk falling behind the competition.
Blank summed up the sentiment of the day: “It’s important to be competitive in the marketplace. What we’ve really learned over the years is [adopting new tech] “It’s about getting way ahead of your competition. If you adopt these things early on, there’s a lot of potential for growth.”
