Spectrum Equipment Service System – Taking the Guesswork Out of Tracking Equipment Costs

Dexter + Chaney has launched an equipment tracking system for heavy construction companies. The product, “Spectrum Equipment Service System,” tracks equipment hours, fuel consumption, and maintenance activity. Staying true to their mission – solving problems for construction markets – Dexter + Chaney has done it again with this latest addition to their line of software products.

The Spectrum Equipment Service System helps construction companies track equipment costs more accurately. These costs can then be allocated back to jobs, ultimately improving profitability. Here’s how it works…

Spectrum Equipment Service System employs three devices. The first is the equipment monitor, a device that captures both operating hours and idling hours of machinery. The monitor is attached to each piece of equipment and is calibrated using RPMs. When RPMs exceed a given speed, hours are logged as operating; when RPMs fall below this speed, hours are logged as idling.

Why is this component important? Foremost, it takes the guesswork out of tracking equipment hours. On a construction site – a very dynamic place – tracking hours by hand is unreliable. Equipment runs at irregular intervals, and even the most experienced and disciplined supers won’t always be accurate. The equipment monitor automatically tracks equipment hours for you, eliminating time and errors from manual data collection.

The second device is the fuel controller. This tracks how much fuel is dispensed to each piece of equipment. Data is then sent directly to the third device, the “field master.”

The field master is a touch-screen device mounted in service vehicles or fuel trucks. Notice the big touch screen and big buttons. No fumbling through operating systems – simply turn on the device and you’re in the software, just like a cell phone.

When other machines are near – for fueling or maintenance – the field master wireless’ly syncs up with that machine’s equipment monitor. It collects information on fuel consumption and equipment usage, then relays the data back to the office using a cellular modem. It also alerts the field mechanic about preventative maintenance tasks or any equipment problems.

Our conclusion: this system can save construction companies time and money in three key ways:

• First of all, manually tracking this information in the field is a hassle, not to mention the data will need to be logged again back at the office. Think of the work load if you have 100 to 200 pieces of equipment, all fueled on a daily basis. If that’s not frustrating enough, consider that the data could still be inaccurate. Spectrum Equipment Service System eliminates double data entry.
• Second, cost allocation is key to job profitability. Using Dexter + Chaney’s new system, construction companies get a better understanding of the true cost of equipment ownership. This helps companies decide when to purchase equipment or rent it instead. Knowing hourly equipment rates also helps companies bid jobs more effectively.
• Finally, preventative maintenance is crucial if you want to get the longest life out of your machines. If you can’t properly track usage, then you could be skipping preventative maintenance tasks. This results in breakdowns and expensive repairs. Which means you’re losing out on your investment.