Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2022.1168
ESPDS: A Support Tool to Assist Forest Equipment Purchase Decisions
Carlos Diniz
; Federal University of Parana 632, Lothário Meissner Avenue Curitiba PR 80210-170 BRASIL
John Sessions
; Oregon State University College of Forestry 336 Peavy Forest Science Complex Corvallis OR 97331-5704 USA
Abstract
In this paper, we introduce a Microsoft Excel Workbook containing the software Equipment Selection Problem DS (ESPDS) that recognizes the special structure of the equipment selection problem. The ESPDS approach is based on the context of the Brazilian forestry sector using detailed equipment maintenance schedules. No special restrictions are needed on cost inputs over time or technologies. The output is an equipment schedule that can be used to project equipment investment needs, operational costs, and tree harvesting costs. ESPDS can be applied to support companies and contractors in order to choose the best option for their operations, as well as to achieve better equipment purchase agreements. We will show how ESPDS will also be useful in providing longer term estimates of production costs. The sensitivity analysis shows how different inputs and maintenance polices can affect the best alternative. A numerical example is included considering the entrance of a specific technology that increases the equipment productivity in order to examine whether it can change the solution. ESPDS is intuitive, flexible, and easy to calculate. Although designed for the forestry industry, the approach is readily transferable to other sectors. ESPDS may be found on the web at the following URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350811380_ESPDS_workbook.
Keywords
equipment selection problem; contractors; mechanization; logging
Hrčak ID:
268022
URI
Publication date:
3.1.2022.
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