By Johan Erasmus, General
Manager: Dealer and Product Support at Hitachi Construction Machinery Africa
In today’s competitive business landscape,
those who achieve success (no matter the industry) are those who are able to
reduce their operating costs without compromising on quality and efficiency.
The global economic downturn that has
shadowed the last decade of economic activity worldwide has triggered a huge
shift in the industry, and South Africa is no different, with the prospect of
further electricity disruptions and an unsure economic outlook over the country
as a whole.
In the mining sector, rising input costs and
lower commodity prices mean that businesses are under extreme pressure to
perform faster and leaner – but they can only perform as well as their heavy
machinery does.
Businesses have started making adjustments to
business models, looking into all manner of inventive solutions to help their
clients reduce costs and increase efficiencies, and Hitachi too, have helped
set the pace for these advancements. The diverse business units represented
under the Hitachi name have enabled us to adapt to the requirements of our
clients and ensure that their machinery delivers the performance expected in
the long term.
High-tech solutions for
age-old problems
The rugged performance of our heavy machinery
is now, in the digital age, matched by incredible advances in the technology
within it. By utilising data analysis, artificial intelligence and the Internet
of Things (IoT), cutting-edge technologies are brought to life by our own
in-house Research and Development teams. The training Hitachi provides to its
clients ensures that our efficiency-insights become a part of the way we design
every piece of machinery, and the advantages are passed on to the customer. As
the machine works, its owners are provided with data that allow continual
strategic improvements, predictive upkeep, and other time-and-money saving
insights.
The age of self-driving
heavy machinery
It’s inevitable that autonomous solutions
will become the norm in the not-too-distant future, and forward-thinking businesses
are already exploring the possibilities and the value this technology can offer
their clients. Hitachi, for example, has invested heavily in the development of
Autonomous Haulage Solutions (AHS), and are working with many stakeholders in
areas such as collision avoidance and remote control to ensure that the safety
of operators and the preservation of assets remains paramount.
A more flexible &
collaborative way of working
Technology is linking and merging different
business disciplines in unexpected ways that deliver fantastic value if put to
good use. Historically compartmentalised units within organisations are
becoming integrated and are helping develop multi-skilled teams that are better
able to satisfy the after-sales demands of clients, both on-site and remotely.
Training departments, too, are getting heavily involved in upskilling staff to
grow and develop the skills needed for the digital age.
When heavy machinery works smarter, faster,
more efficiently and more reliably, both the manufacturer and the customer reap
the advantages. In a world where uptime is everything, the future is sure to
bring increased focus on predictive maintenance, smart parts, remote
performance, and much more.
Businesses need to be aware of common
bottlenecks and points of failure, and identify strategies on how to use the
technologies at their disposal to guarantee more uptime, if they are to thrive
in the modern business environment.
Ends
About
Hitachi Construction Machinery
Built on the foundation of superb technological capabilities
Hitachi Construction Machinery has been providing a multitude of industry
customers, including mining, construction, quarry and forestry with reliable
and high-quality machinery and aftersales support solutions for decades.
Hitachi Construction Machinery supply an extensive range
of Hitachi products, associated parts and innovative services throughout the
world.
For more information, please
contact:
Boitumelo Mogano
(T) 010 596 1305
Moeketsi Mokoteli
