The scale of the programme represents the largest number of operators to date to benefit from the Finning industry leading training.
Having collected data from its operations, pre and post training, Eco-Drive Project Manager and Cemex UK’s National Operations Project Manager, Craig Hooper has seen the benefits Eco-Drive has delivered for the business first hand.
Commenting on his findings from Cemex UK ’s strategic investment in Eco-Drive, Craig said: “We constantly monitor our performance throughout the business so have a lot of data to hand to compare pre and post training results. We have now collected post training data for a number of months of fully trained operator activity, so are able to understand the impact training has had on our 350 participants from across the UK operations.
“As a business, we therefore know that at every one of our sites across the UK we have benefitted from efficiency savings in both litres per tonne and plant maintenance. From a financial return perspective the time and resources invested in the training has already more than paid for itself.
“The training has instilled a culture shift into the everyday running of the business. Energy, a topic we have talked about for years, is one of the issues at the forefront of everyone’s thinking as they can see the financial and environmental benefits of good practice.
“A great example of this is the competition that has now developed between operators at sites to see who is the most fuel efficient, with the lowest cost per litre, making a serious topic fun.
“It is this legacy that will ultimately keep on rewarding our investment, year on year and from the response of operators, the training is something they will come back to time and time again.”
As Finning’s largest Eco-Drive programme user to date Cemex UK has worked with the Finning team to develop the programme delivery across its operations. Commenting on the training rollout, Finning Strategic Account Manager Robert Powell said: “We first introduced Cemex UK to the Eco-Drive concept at an equipment management seminar following their energy efficiency days in 2009. Craig and his team recognised the potential of rolling out the programme to the Cemex UK quarrying and aggregates plant operators and so worked with us to see how we could best achieve this.
“In order to have a structured rollout process we initially participated in an event with Cemex UK site operators, demonstrating the programme. We then jointly organised five site days at Cemex UK facilities, training operatives on specific techniques relevant to the equipment they were using.
“The remaining operators benefitted from a number of training days at Caterpillar’s Desford visitor and demonstration centre in Leicester. This allowed us to train all 350 participants over a number of months to give Cemex UK the opportunity to involve everyone in the process.”
Following the training days, Finning representatives worked with each operator to put together a personal development programme, Cemex UK also asked for operator input and suggestions for site specific improvements, Craig: “With the development programme and improvement suggestions we were able to gain knowledge on how to help each individual perform their role better. We were also able to compile some best practice guidelines and information from ideas that has helped every site improve performance.
“I am a great believer in people power and by giving everyone this training Cemex UK as a business really has benefitted in ways that we never even imagined. People are our business and when you invest in their skills in a positive way, everyone reaps the rewards.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
