Achieving better efficiency in the transport of hot mix asphalt to site from a fixed plant in Gauteng

Abstract

The primary goal of this research is aimed at investigating the current situation relating to transportation of asphalt and the inter-action between the paving crew and the asphalt producing plant, with the purpose of deducting practical steps that will improve the delivery and production process as a whole. A study is undertaken in the analysis of the delivery and round-trip cycle times of the cartage contractors transporting the asphalt from the fixed plant to the Old Barn Project. A daily summary is compiled for every day that asphalt is delivered to the project, and this data is sorted and analyzed to deduct trends and typical patterns for a specific type of work. The factors by which the performance is judged will be a relation between the type of work carried out as well as the production figure achieved for the specific day. Furthermore a basic model is composed that could be used as a vehicle and round trip calculator to guide the supplier as to the resources that are required on future projects. A list of practical steps is also drawn up, in the form of recommendations to conclude some of the findings of the project. The starting point of this research is to gain insight into the processes involved and to make recommendations on a very practical level. The role of good communication between the asphalt plant and the paving crew was also found to be of critical importance, as well as the establishment of an open honest relationship between the key role players.