INDUSTRIES

QUICK WINS HELP YOU REALIZE THE RAPID PROFIT POWER OF YOUR MACHINE DATA

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There’s no doubt that when you’re dealing with a mixed fleet, a diverse operator skill set and tracking multiple projects—it can be hard to know exactly where to look for your quickest quick win. The electronic technology on your machines is keeping track of a wealth of information about what’s happening on your site. By tapping into that data, you can course correct problems and get rapid profit-building results.

The technology that connects you to your machine data is called Cat® Link. A part of Cat® Technology, Cat Link includes two key components:  Cat® Product Link™ and VisionLink®.

  • Product Link is hardware; VisionLink is software
  • Product Link grabs data from machine sensors and control systems and transmits it to VisionLink which lets you view your data on any web-enabled device.
  • Once Product Link is activated, all you need to do is set up your VisionLink account and start taking a look at what your machine information can tell you.

 

EASY, PROFITABLE WINS WITH CAT LINK DATA

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1. Control Your Fuel Costs

Fuel consumption information is some of the most valuable information you can collect and use. Some industry experts say it’s not unusual for idle time to represent as much as 40%-50% of total running time. Tracking and reducing idle time can have an immediate payback in reduced fuel costs. If fuel consumption goes up suddenly—and your operator’s task hasn’t changed—it’s a signal that something else needs attention. Here are just some of the problems fuel data can help you uncover before they result in unwanted maintenance or repairs and increased operating costs:

Excessive Idle Time

Dirty Fuel Injectors

Plugged Air Filters

Contaminated Fuel Filters

Defective Sensors

Faulty Engine Control Module

Worn Piston Rings or Leaky Valves

Slipping Clutch or Transmission

Improper Lube Oil Viscosity

Low Tire Pressure or Worn Tires

Aggressive or Untrained Operator

Undersized Machine, Bucket or Work Tool

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2. INCREASE UTILIZATION BY STUDYING WHEN EQUIPMENT IS NOT BEING USED

It’s hard to see patterns when you have multiple worksites or equipment working in different locations. With the data in front of you, you can look for alternative uses of equipment—any other function it could serve to generate revenue. Your information may reveal that trucks sit idling too long, burning fuel just to be loaded. By analyzing the data you may find enough idle time exists that you can park one of the trucks. This eliminates the fuel cost of that truck and makes cycle times more efficient for the remaining trucks. Another quick win idea would be using your trucks to contract haul during non-working periods.

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3. USE DATA TO MANAGE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS

Analyzing your data can help you increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of your maintenance schedules. It may surprise you how long you can effectively stretch maintenance intervals—saving time and money. Your Cat dealer can help you interpret data and even provide condition monitoring services to help you develop the most profitable maintenance schedules for your equipment.

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4. CREATE A FAST START TEAM

The information you gather from your machines has the ability to positively impact many areas of your worksites from utilization and uptime to operating costs and billing. Using a cross-functional team to review VisionLink information clarifies analyses and recommendations which can’t help but result in better decisions.  It also means that any hurdles can be overcome by the team and not sit completely with a single person.

 

 

Your Cat dealer can help you and your team make the most of your bottom line.

Don’t wait to put your machine data to work for you.

 

Cat Equipment Management 

Get the information you need to make decisions easily. With Cat Equipment management, you can use your data to track equipment location and hours and monitor machine use and health.

Learn More
Cat Equipment Management
Cat Equipment Management


Master Equipment Costs

The Fundamentals of Equipment Economics is a virtual course from Caterpillar University that will help you understand the equipment lifecycle, reduce downtime and make smarter moves for your business.


 

 

 

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