Productivity and Utilization Benchmarks for Chain Flail Delimber-Debarkers-Chippers Used in Fast-Growing Plantations

The study developed robust benchmark figures for the performance of delimber-debarker-chippers in fast-growing eucalypt plantations, through the analysis of an exceptionally large database that combined automatically-captured and user-input records. Data for three Peterson Pacific DDC 5000 H units operated by the Brazilian company Fibria Cellulose were captured continuously for three years, from 2015 to 2017. During this time, all study machines ran triple-shift and clocked over 25 000 hours each. The consolidated record included information for 79 858 delay events, with an average duration of 0.55 hours per event. Delay time accounted for 57% of total worksite time: mean utilization was therefore 43%. Maintenance was the most important cause of delays, and accounted for 22% of total worksite time. Interaction delays came second, and represented 20% of total worksite time. Mean productivity was 88 solid m(eb)(3) (under bark) per productive machine hour (PMH) or 39 solid m(eb)(3) per scheduled machine hour (SMH), depending on whether delay time was excluded or included in the calculation. The gap between the most efficient and the least efficient operator was 22% and 26% for scheduled productivity and utilization, respectively (this difference was calculated by taking the figures for the lowest performer as a basis). While the exact productivity figures reported here may reflect the exceptionally favorable conditions encountered in rationally-managed South American plantations, the dynamics revealed in this study may have general validity and could offer precious insights for rationalizing a whole range of similar operations.