Productivity Improvements through Professional Training in Appalachian Cable Logging Operations

ABSTRACT – The Appalachian mountain region lends itself ideally to cable logging operations. However, very few new cable logging contractors that have started over the last two decades have been successful in sustaining their operation. The absence of advanced planning, contract management, lack of skilled labor and labor turnover issues has led to inefficient operations that cannot survive financially. A productivity study was carried out on one new Thunderbird TY 45 operation to document the effect of professional training on the production efficiency. The productivity of the operation after a month of self-learning was established at 18.8 tons per productive machine hour at an average piece size of 1.25 tons and 120 meter extraction distance. The crew then received one full week of professional training from two experienced Pacific Northwest riggers. Two weeks after the training the average productivity increased to 23.7 tons per productive machine hour. The main factors were a reduction in carriage out and in times, as well as increased average turn volume. Considerable improvements in line shifts, landing organization and safety were also observed. For this case study, the expense of professional training will be paid off in four working weeks