automation layer. Instead of a separate control interface,
the user controls the spout and starts the filling process
using the same screen on which the order details are
shown.
CDM prevents the selection of the wrong silo for
loading based on the product specified in the order.
Intelligent flow control can optimise loading times and
help prevent dusting and detect silo issues. Reducing the
amount of human monitoring needed has allowed a
single operator to load six or more alleys simultaneously.
l
Unattended Automated Loading
– unattended
loading creates an environment in which the driver
can handle all aspects of a load with a simple,
intuitive interface while maintaining data security
and process interlocks. Extending the automation
logic developed for attended loading, the process
needs to be aware of scale deviations such as axle
position off the scale and fraudulent behaviour.
Self-service loading is a highlight in customer service.
Plants and terminals can provide extended service hours
without increasing labour costs. Dense population markets
often see cement shipments in peaks during the day –
early morning, post rush hours and preloading for the
next day. All of these can be serviced with a single shift
attending the site.
An added benefit with unattended loading is the
information gathered regarding on-site movement.
Automated solutions using a site portal at the entry
and exit provide real-time statistics for vehicles on-site,
waiting times and loading times. These are useful both
for customer feedback and negotiations with common
carriers. Portal solutions have been used successfully in
large plant environments loading over 250 trucks and over
50 rail cars in a day.
Global business transition
The past few years have brought a few major shifts in
the cement industry. As larger companies have expanded
and merged, asset divestiture has provided opportunities
for other cement specialists and vertically integrated
enterprises. The challenge in these investments is
integration. Companies are acquiring an existing business
process, sales model, customer base and infrastructure
that can be different to existing models and challenging
to a corporate culture. Operational mergers introduce
issues dealing with regional differences both in industry
practice and regulatory environments. While 98% of
cement in North America is shipped to the end user in
bulk trucks according to the PCA, the transport industry is
quite diverse. Cement sales using pre-paid freight with a
common carrier is a growing practice in some regions. CDM
has been implemented successfully in these situations over
the past few years. The first attended loading solutions
were deployed in 1998, and driver-loading has been
accomplished from kiosks since 2002. This broad range of
experience is incorporated into our application suite and
applied to our long-term partnership with the cement
industry.
