Machine availability and productivity during timber harvester machine operator training

Abstract

Machine availability and timber harvest productivity in commercial forestry are influenced in part by operator performance. This work aimed to evaluate the behavior of these two variables, machine availability and productivity, during the training period for harvester operators. The study was conducted at a forestry company situated in Brazil. Productivity and machine availability data were collected for 30 individuals who were trained over an 11-month period. Monthly mean data for both variables were compared using Tukey’s test. The analysis revealed a significant difference in productivity and machine availability during the training period, with productivity increasing until 6 months of harvester operator training while machine availability simultaneously decreased. Productivity began at a mean of 9 m3·PMH0 −1, reaching 24 m3·PMH0 −1 at its peak, and stabilizing around 20 m3·PMH0 −1, where PMH0 is productive machine hours. Machine availability started at 84%, decreased to a mean of 78%, and increased to around 88% until the present. Both variables demonstrated a tendency toward stabilization until 9 months of harvester operation training. Given that the harvester operator training period had a significant influence on machine availability and productivity, this study’s results support careful operational planning, staffing, and resource use during this training period.