Comparison of Productivity for 5 and 6 Scrapers - 1.3 | 10. Introduction to Scraper Economics | Construction Engineering & Management - Vol 2
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Scraper-Pusher Dynamics with 5 Scrapers

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're discussing how the number of scrapers affects productivity. With 5 scrapers, the pusher often finds itself waiting, which means the scraper controls the production process. Can anyone tell me what happens in this scenario?

Student 1
Student 1

The scrapers are fewer than needed, so they have to work harder!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The scrapers are critical in this setup. The pusher has idle time because it can only operate when the scraper is ready. Now, why might this be a disadvantage?

Student 2
Student 2

It means the production could slow down if the scrapers can't keep up!

Teacher
Teacher

Right! In fact, the productivity with 5 scrapers is calculated at 636.89 bank cubic meters per hour. Now, what do you think happens when we increase to 6 scrapers?

Student 3
Student 3

The production would go up, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The production increases to 723.36 bank cubic meters per hour. This demonstrates the advantage of having more scrapers.

Student 4
Student 4

But would that be more cost-effective?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! Let's tie this back to cost efficiency after we discuss productivity more, so remember that while productivity may increase, costs might too!

Cost Efficiency of Scrapers

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Teacher
Teacher

We talked about productivity earlier. Now let's discuss the costs associated with using 5 and 6 scrapers. For 5 scrapers, our unit cost is ₹44.12 per bank cubic meter. Can anyone guess how we arrive at this figure?

Student 1
Student 1

Maybe we divide the total costs by the amount produced?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! We take the costs of the pusher and scrapers divided by production output. Now, the cost with 6 scrapers is ₹45.07. What does this indicate to us?

Student 2
Student 2

That using 6 scrapers is more productive but also more expensive!

Student 3
Student 3

So if you want to save money, using 5 scrapers is better?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! It’s essential to balance between productivity and cost. Always remember the trade-offs in such operational scenarios.

Final Thoughts on Scraper Numbers

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Teacher
Teacher

To wrap up, what do we learn from comparing 5 and 6 scrapers? Just to recap the essential points about productivity and costs.

Student 1
Student 1

With 5 scrapers, production is lower but costs are better.

Student 2
Student 2

With 6 scrapers, we produce more but it's more expensive!

Teacher
Teacher

Well summarized! Always consider the project's specific needs: are we prioritizing efficiency, or are costs more critical? Your ability to evaluate these factors will be fundamental for effective decision-making in operations.

Student 4
Student 4

So the balance between productivity and costs is crucial!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Keep this balance in mind as you assess future operational scenarios of scrapers and pushers.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section analyzes the productivity differences between using 5 and 6 scrapers in operational tasks, illustrating the implications of scraper numbers on overall efficiency.

Standard

In this section, we explore how using 5 versus 6 scrapers affects productivity and unit production cost. The dynamics of scraper-pusher interactions and their impact on production rates are discussed, demonstrating that while 6 scrapers offer higher productivity, 5 scrapers yield a lower production cost.

Detailed

Comparison of Productivity for 5 and 6 Scrapers

This section provides an in-depth analysis of how the number of scrapers—specifically 5 versus 6—affects production output and costs in scraper-pusher operations.

Key Points:

  1. Scraper-Pusher Dynamics:
  2. Using fewer scrapers (5) than the balanced number makes the scraper critical in the operation. The pusher experiences idle time, waiting for scrapers to be available, thus controlling production.
  3. Conversely, with more scrapers than needed (6), the pusher becomes the critical component since the scrapers will have idle time while waiting for the pusher.
  4. Productivity Calculation:
  5. For 5 scrapers, the production rate is calculated to be 636.89 bank cubic meters per hour using volume per load, cycle time, and efficiency rates.
  6. For 6 scrapers, the production rises to 723.36 bank cubic meters per hour, indicating a significant enhancement in productivity.
  7. Cost Efficiency:
  8. The unit production cost for 5 scrapers is calculated at ₹44.12 per bank cubic meter, while using 6 scrapers results in a unit cost of ₹45.07, which is higher despite increased productivity.
  9. Thus, there is a trade-off between productivity and cost where 5 scrapers offer a more cost-effective solution, emphasizing the importance of considering both productivity rates and overall production costs in decision-making.

The section concludes that for maximizing productivity, one might prefer 6 scrapers, but if minimizing costs is the objective, 5 scrapers would be the better option.

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Using 5 Scrapers

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Now let us consider the economics of going for 5 scrapers. So, 5 in the sense you are going to use lesser than what is needed, you are assuming 5 that means you are going to use the number of scrapers lesser than what is needed. So, when the number of scrapers are lesser than the balanced number, obviously scrapers are more critical, but a pusher will have the ideal time. Your pusher will wait for the scraper. So, unless a scraper is available you cannot complete the job. So, here the scraper will be controlling the production as a scraper is a lesser in number, but the pusher will have the ideal time. So, now, let us see the productivity in this case of n equal to 5 scrapers.

Detailed Explanation

In this chunk, we discuss the scenario where only 5 scrapers are used. The idea here is that if the number of scrapers is below the optimal number, one scraper becomes critical for production. Since there are fewer scrapers, they can control the production line. The pusher, a supporting mechanism, will often end up waiting for the scraper to finish its task before it can proceed. Thus, the scarcity of scrapers can lead to slower productivity overall.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a factory with only 5 workers assigned to build a product, whereas 10 are needed. The workflow slows down as tasks pile up because each worker (like the scraper in this scenario) becomes essential for the production line. If one worker is busy, the others wait, leading to inefficiency. Thus, having fewer scrapers can hold back overall production, much like the factory's limited workforce.

Productivity Calculation for 5 Scrapers

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The volume of your bowl volume per load, you know the value of 19.82 bank cubic meter. Production (Scraper controlling) efficiency, hr = × number of scrapers × vol. per load / cycle time of scraper, min:

= (50 min/hr) × 5 × 19.82 bcm / 7.78 min = 636.89 bcm/hr.

Detailed Explanation

In this section, we calculate the productivity of using 5 scrapers. We start with a known volume capacity for the load, which is 19.82 bank cubic meters. The productivity is calculated based on this volume, the number of scrapers, and the cycle time for each scraper. By applying the formula presented, we find that using 5 scrapers yields a production rate of 636.89 bank cubic meters per hour, illustrating the output if we opt for this setup.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a bus that can carry 19.82 cubic meters of passengers. If there are 5 buses operating together (scrapers), but each bus can only make stops every 7.78 minutes, then by coordinating their trips, the total number of passengers moved in one hour (636.89) is calculated based on how many trips each bus makes.

Using 6 Scrapers

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If n is greater than the balance number that means you are going to use more number of scrapers, then what is indicated by the balance number. In this case, scrapers will have the ideal time. Scrapers are not critical. So, the scraper will be waiting for the pusher. Pusher is critical here. So, unless the pusher is available, I cannot complete the job.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk discusses the implications of using 6 scrapers instead of 5. Here, we have more scrapers than what is optimal. As a result, the scrapers wait for the pusher to be free. In this setup, the roles shift because the pusher becomes the critical component that dictates the flow of work. If the pusher is busy or unavailable, it doesn't matter how many scrapers are ready; work cannot continue.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a restaurant with 6 chefs (scrapers) preparing meals, but only one waiter (pusher) to serve them. If the waiter is busy serving other customers, the chefs, despite being ready, cannot send out any orders. This highlights how additional resources don’t always mean increased speed if the bottleneck is at a different point in the system.

Productivity Calculation for 6 Scrapers

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Production (Pusher controlling) = × vol. per load / cycle time of pusher, min:

= (50 min/hr) × 19.82 bcm / 1.37 min = 723.36 bcm/hr.

Detailed Explanation

In this section, we calculate the productivity when using 6 scrapers. The formula used here highlights that the output now depends on the pusher's cycle time instead of the scrapers'. The resulting productivity is 723.36 bank cubic meters per hour. This illustrates that with 6 scrapers, production is now limited by how quickly the pusher can operate.

Examples & Analogies

Returning to our earlier restaurant analogy: if we have 6 chefs all cooking meals but only 1 waiter who takes 1.37 minutes to serve each meal, the restaurant's ability to serve customers becomes limited by the waiter's speed. Hence, even with many chefs, the overall meal delivery rate (723.36 meals per hour) relies on the waiter's efficiency.

Comparing Productivity

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Based on productivity if I select obviously I have to go for 6 number of scrapers per pusher, because 5 scrapers is giving you 636.89, 6 scrapers is giving you 723.36 bank cubic meters per hour.

Detailed Explanation

Here, we make a direct comparison between the productivity outputs when using 5 scrapers versus 6 scrapers. The conclusion is straightforward; 6 scrapers yield a higher productivity rate. Thus, if maximizing output is the goal, the choice clearly favors the combination with 6 scrapers, as it means completing jobs faster.

Examples & Analogies

If you run two delivery teams, one with less capacity (5 vans) and one with greater (6 vans), and you find that the second team delivers more packages per hour. The choice is simple: invest in the second team for greater output, as it directly translates to better business efficiency.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Productivity vs Cost: Understanding the trade-off between production rates and operational costs.

  • Scraper-Pusher Dynamics: Identifying how the numbers of scrapers impact pusher efficiency and idle times.

  • Calculating Unit Production Cost: Mastering the formula for determining cost efficiency based on operational data.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Example of calculating production rates for 5 and 6 scrapers demonstrating their respective outputs.

  • Illustration of how to compute the unit production cost using the data provided for both configurations.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Five scrapers at play, yields a cost that will stay; six scrapers faster, but costs don’t play master!

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a construction site where five scrapers worked tirelessly but always alongside a waiting pusher. One day, six scrapers were added, and the pusher felt overwhelmed but the productivity soared high!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • P/C - Productivity over Cost: Always weigh output against expenses.

🎯 Super Acronyms

SPC - Scraper-Pusher Complexity

  • Understanding the like of scrapers balancing control of the project.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Production Rate

    Definition:

    The amount of material produced in a given period, typically measured in cubic meters per hour.

  • Term: Unit Production Cost

    Definition:

    The total cost to produce one unit of product, often expressed in currency per cubic meter.

  • Term: Scraper

    Definition:

    A type of heavy machinery used for moving bulk material, particularly in construction sites.

  • Term: Pusher

    Definition:

    A piece of equipment that assists in the operation of scrapers by pushing them, ensuring efficient loading and movement.