Producing aggregates and stone.
WHAT THE OPERATION INVOLVES
Removing overburden Drilling and blasting, or ripping Loading and hauling Crushing and screening Stockpiling Loading out to customers
WHAT DETERMINES PROFITABILITY
Cost per tonne produced Product mix against demand Plant availability Haulage distance to customers
WHY PRODUCT MIX MATTERS
Crushing produces a range of sizes, and unsold sizes accumulate.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What sizes the market actually wants.
WHAT TO ADJUST
Screening to produce the mix that sells.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT UNSOLD FRACTIONS
Find markets, or adjust the process.
WHY
Stockpiles that never sell are wasted production.
WHAT PLANT AVAILABILITY MEANS
Hours the crushing plant actually runs against hours available.
WHY IT DOMINATES COST
Fixed costs continue while the plant is stopped.
WHAT STOPS IT
Breakdowns Blockages Feed interruption Power failure Waiting for blasting
WHAT TO TRACK
Availability, and downtime by cause.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Feed that keeps the plant running continuously.
WHY
A plant starved of feed produces nothing while costing the same.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Tonnes produced per hour Tonnes per litre of fuel Cost per tonne by product
WHAT QUALITY REQUIRES
Product meeting specification: size, shape, cleanliness, strength
Testing Consistency
WHY
Construction buyers specify, and off-specification material is rejected.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Testing arrangements, and records.
