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Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Calculating Balance Number
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Today, we'll learn how to calculate the balance number of trucks needed for one loader. Can anyone remind us what factors we consider in this calculation?
Is it the truck cycle time and loader cycle time?
Exactly! The formula we use is truck cycle time divided by loader cycle time. We estimated the truck cycle time to be 39.5 and loader cycle time at 5.5. Who can now calculate the balance number?
It should be 39.5 divided by 5.5, which is around 7.18.
Awesome! Now, what would you consider when deciding whether to round to 7 or 8?
We should evaluate the costs and see which option is more economical.
Good point! Evaluating economics is key here. Let's move on to analyze different truck numbers.
Impact of Truck Numbers
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Now, let’s consider how varying the number of trucks affects productivity. When we have 5 trucks, how does our productivity look?
I recall from the lesson that productivity for 5 trucks is 62.65 meter cube per hour.
Correct! And for 6 trucks?
That should be 75.18 meter cube per hour.
Great! Notice how productivity increases with the number of trucks until the balance point. What happens beyond that?
Beyond the balance number, productivity levels off since the loader can't handle more.
Exactly! All trucks beyond the balance number will just wait for the loader, so we should not increase our truck count unnecessarily.
Economics and Cost Analysis
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Next, let's examine how to analyze the economics of our truck-loader combination. What are the costs we need to consider?
The cost of the loader and the trucks, right?
Exactly! We have the loader costing 2700 per hour and trucks costing 1650 each per hour. How would you calculate total cost for 5 trucks?
It would be 5 times 1650 plus 2700, which totals to 10,950.
Right! And now how do we find the unit production cost?
By dividing total cost by productivity.
Nice work! This is a crucial calculation to understand where to draw the line on truck numbers.
Final Review and Recommendations
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In conclusion, what have we learned about the balance number and decision-making?
It's important to keep both productivity and costs in mind when choosing the number of trucks.
And rounding down usually helps avoid overloading the loader during operations.
Exactly! Remember the balance number helps ensure efficient workflow, and understanding the economics lets us make informed choices.
Introduction & Overview
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
Quick Overview
Standard
The balance number of trucks per loader is calculated using truck cycle time and loader cycle time. Key concepts include the impact of truck numbers on productivity, the economic implications of these decisions, and how to find the optimal number of trucks that aligns with the loader's capabilities for maximum efficiency.
Detailed
In this section, the calculation of the balance number of trucks required for one loader is detailed, focusing on the formula that involves dividing truck cycle time by loader cycle time. With estimates of truck cycle and loader cycle times (39.5 and 5.5 respectively), the balance number is initially calculated at 7.18, leading to considerations of rounding up or down, followed by an economic analysis of various combinations of trucks. The interplay between the number of trucks and production costs is discussed, emphasizing that while productivity initially increases with more trucks, exceeding the balance number results in diminished returns due to loader constraints. The overall optimal mix is determined by analyzing unit production costs alongside overall productivity to find configurations yielding the lowest costs. Finally, the key takeaway is the balance point where both truck and loader productivity align maximally, with recommendations on choosing the number of trucks based on their economic efficiency.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Understanding Balance Number
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Now let us find the balance number of trucks needed for one loader. So, that depends upon your balance number of trucks per loader going to be serve by one loader is equal to your truck cycle time divided by load of cycle time. So, you have estimated the truck cycle time earlier, so estimated it is 39.5. The truck cycle time is 39.5 and the loader cycle time is 5.5, we have calculated the loader cycle time as 5.5. So, this gives me the balance number of 7.18.
Detailed Explanation
The balance number of trucks needed for one loader is determined by dividing the truck cycle time (how long it takes for a truck to make a round trip) by the loader cycle time (the time it takes for the loader to load and prepare a truck). Here, the truck cycle time is 39.5 minutes, and the loader cycle time is 5.5 minutes. The formula yields a balance number of approximately 7.18.
Examples & Analogies
Think of this like waiting in line at a coffee shop. If it takes 39.5 minutes for a customer to enjoy their coffee and leave (cycle time), while the barista takes 5.5 minutes to make each coffee (loader time), then ideally, you’d want around 7 customers (trucks) in line to keep the barista busy without delays.
Rounding the Balance Number
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Here also I did not get the old number, so I have to do the rounding either I can round it to 7 or I can round it to 8. So, but the logical thing is you have to work with the economics of both the cases and then take the decision.
Detailed Explanation
Since the calculated balance number is 7.18, it needs to be rounded to either 7 or 8. The choice depends on evaluating the costs and benefits associated with each option. Lowering the number can save costs but might lead to delays, while increasing might lead to extra costs without additional productivity.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a bakery deciding whether to bake 7 or 8 loaves of bread based on the time it takes to prepare. They need to weigh whether baking 7 is efficient enough, or if the additional loaf (though potentially wasteful) would meet better customer demand on a busy day.
Analyzing Productivity vs. Cost
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So, just to give you a better explanation I am just working out what will be the economics when I go for different number of trucks. Say if I go for 5 number of trucks 6, 7, 8 and 9, how the productivity will vary, how the unit production cost will vary?
Detailed Explanation
The instructor plans to evaluate how changing the number of trucks affects overall productivity and production costs. By calculating various scenarios with 5 to 9 trucks, he aims to determine the impact on efficiency and cost. Knowing this helps decide the optimal number of trucks needed.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it as renting bikes for a group ride. If you have too few bikes, a few people will miss out (lower productivity), but having too many means some bikes will just sit unused (increased cost without additional benefit).
Understanding Truck Productivity
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So, basically how to estimate the job production? So, it is nothing but your single truck productivity multiplied by number of trucks, that will give you the job production. So, provided the number of trucks are lesser than the balance number.
Detailed Explanation
Job production is calculated by multiplying the productivity of a single truck by the total number of trucks, provided the number of trucks is less than or equal to the balance number. This means that if you have fewer trucks, the overall system productivity is determined by the truck cycle time.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a team of chefs baking cookies. If each chef (truck) can make 12 cookies an hour, and you have 5 chefs, then your total production is 60 cookies per hour. The efficiency works best when all chefs are busy but not overloaded.
Limitations of Overusing Trucks
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But when the number of trucks is your balance number say 7, so actual balance number is 7.18. So, when the numbers of trucks are lesser than the balance number say 5 trucks, 5 into productivity of your truck, individual truck productivity is 12.53-meter cube per hour. So, that gives me the value is 62.65-meter cube per hour.
Detailed Explanation
When the number of trucks meets or is less than the balance number, productivity can be directly calculated by multiplying the individual truck productivity by the number of trucks. For example, with 5 trucks each capable of moving 12.53 cubic meters/hour, the overall output would be 62.65 cubic meters/hour.
Examples & Analogies
It's like a basketball team; if you have just enough players to play, each player can contribute to the game. But if you have extra players who cannot play simultaneously, their presence doesn't increase your score, it just creates confusion.
Productivity Control by Loader
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Beyond the balance number, so you can see that number of trucks are more so the truck will be waiting for the loader unless the loader is available your truck cannot do the job.
Detailed Explanation
Once the number of trucks exceeds the balance number, the additional trucks cannot increase productivity because they will spend time waiting for the loader to be available. Hence, productivity in this situation is limited by the loader, not the trucks.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a traffic jam; adding more cars does not help if there’s only one traffic light (loader). The cars (trucks) will simply sit idle, waiting for their turn while the light is red.
The Economics of Choosing Truck Numbers
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So, most of the decisions are based upon the economics. People are more concerned about the unit production cost associated with the machine.
Detailed Explanation
Decisions in truck and loader operations often revolve around cost efficiency. The unit production cost is calculated to determine which combination of trucks and loaders minimizes overall costs. This consideration involves evaluating various configurations to find the most economical choice.
Examples & Analogies
It's like shopping for groceries; if buying in bulk saves money but you end up wasting some of the food, it might be wiser to buy in smaller sizes to ensure you get the best balance of cost and use.
Definitions & Key Concepts
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
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Truck Cycle Time: Important in determining the balance number and production efficiency.
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Loader Cycle Time: Influences how quickly a loader can fill trucks, impacting overall output.
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Balance Point: The optimal number of trucks where productivity peaks before declining.
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Economic Evaluation: Essential for making decisions about the number of trucks to utilize.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Examples
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When using 5 trucks, productivity is 62.65 cubic meters per hour, while with 8 trucks, it rises to 100.24 cubic meters per hour, indicating increased efficiency until the loader is overwhelmed.
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Calculating total cost for 6 trucks involves finding 6 times 1650 plus 2700 for the loader, showing how costs can add up quickly.
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
🎵 Rhymes Time
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To find the number that's just right, divide the truck's time by loader's light.
📖 Fascinating Stories
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Imagine a busy site where a loader and trucks work together. Each truck helps the loader, but if too many show up, they all wait and slow down production.
🧠 Other Memory Gems
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T-L-P (Truck, Loader, Productivity) - Remember the order of operations in calculations.
🎯 Super Acronyms
B.T.C. (Balance Truck Capacity) - Balance your trucks with the loader's capacity!
Flash Cards
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
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Term: Balance Number
Definition:
The optimal ratio of trucks to loaders to maximize productivity without causing delays.
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Term: Truck Cycle Time
Definition:
The total time taken for the truck to complete a round trip cycle from the loading site to the dumping site and back.
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Term: Loader Cycle Time
Definition:
The time taken by the loader to load material onto a truck.
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Term: Productivity
Definition:
The measure of output produced per unit of time, often evaluated in cubic meters per hour.
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Term: Unit Production Cost
Definition:
The cost incurred per unit of production, calculated by dividing total costs by productivity.