Comparison of Timber Loading Productivity between Manual System and Electric Powered Winch System

Abstract

In Turkey, extraction of forest products is mostly carried out by forest villagers and/or forest villages development cooperatives. Due to their limited equipment availability, many activities conducted during timber extraction are still done by human power based (manual) systems. However, the work force in forestry sector has recently decreased because young people in the forest villages tend to head for different job opportunities. Besides, manual systems are not favorable in terms of loading time, which directly effects overall efficiency of timber extraction. In recent years, development cooperatives have begun to turn to small-size mechanization systems in timber loading operation. Electric powered winch located at the rear end of the truck platform is one of the methods that can provide development cooperatives with low-cost and time-saving timber loading system. In this study, it was aimed to compare productivity of two loading systems including traditional manual loading and electric powered winch systems. The time and motion study was carried out during loading of round wood materials at the landing area located in Bahçe Forest Enterprise Chief in the city of Osmaniye. Loading operation was divided into specific work stages and time measurements were made in the field using with a chronometer. Based on the productivity analysis, it was found that the average productivity for manual loading and electric winch loading were 3.40 m3/hr and 4.25 m3/hr, respectively. As a result, electric power winch system, which is affordable for forest villages development cooperatives, can be an efficient alternative method for loading operations particularly when there are limited equipment availability.