A manual for conducting productivity studies for forest machines
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Date
1997
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of New Brunswick
Abstract
Productivity studies are used in logging operations to evaluate the technical and
operating characteristics of forest machines, and to relate the effects of environmental and
operational factors to machine or system productivity. This information can be used to
evaluate new equipment, compare equipment alternatives, schedule production, prepare
budgets, improve the efficiency of logging operations and therefore reduce overall costs.
A manual was developed to assist in conducting productivity studies for forest machines,
which outlines the various methods of collecting time data and environmental and
operational data, and also outlines a methodology for analysing the data that is collected in
the field to formulate a productivity equation. Data analysis is performed using regression
analysis, and the use of dummy variables to represent qualitative variables in the analysis is
described. An example is outlined using a sample set of fictitious data to illustrate the
methodology, and the use of the SPSS computer statistics package is explained for this
purpose.
Key words: logging machines, logging operations, machine productivity, productivity
function, regression analysis, time study.