Smart products, integrated tech rise

By Rob Seibert| December 17, 2018

Tire pressure monitoring systems are changing the way decision makers receive information. Photo courtesy of Bridgestone.

As we close out 2018, the year will end on a mostly positive note for aggregate producers and construction.

While stock prices declined over the short term, construction material sales were up due to pent-up demand.

This momentum is likely to continue in 2019. The housing market remains strong and infrastructure demand continues to grow as states look for new ways to address a lack of federal funding. Many producers are operating at capacity, creating pressure to maximize uptime and increase the amount of earth moved each day.

At the same time, the industry is being transformed by technology. Smart products backed by integrated technologies are setting a new standard for suppliers in the aggregate and construction segments. Producers want to work with partners who can go beyond standard product offerings to deliver service solutions that will drive operational efficiencies and improve productivity.

As we look to 2019, producers should enhance their approach to equipment. Tires, for example, shouldn’t be dismissed as black and round pieces of rubber. Instead, producers should start to see equipment like tires as important investments propelling the aggregate and construction industries into a future powered by predictive analytics.

Integrated technologies for data capture

Today’s off-the-road (OTR) customers have a bias for digital solutions as they look to increase productivity and improve efficiency. In fact, an Accenture study found that 83 percent of companies that embraced big data increased their competitive edge.

Through the use of integrated tire technologies, producers have an opportunity to reduce their total cost of tire ownership and improve productivity by gathering data and unlocking insights to ensure these assets are being used to their full potential.

The adoption of technologies that gather tire performance data continues to grow as producers look to anticipate and avoid unplanned downtime. More products are being introduced to the market and, for the first time, owner-operators are armed with solutions to track and manage tire performance.

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), for instance, enable the real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature information. By combining TPMS with in-cab alerts, drivers can address tire-related issues before they impact operations.

Still, the true value of TPMS is realized when this data is compiled into a single management platform alongside other key performance indicators – like treadwear and critical inspection details – to inform decision-making.

Predictive maintenance through analytics

The rise of tire data capture drives the need for analytics platforms that can make this information actionable. This has led to the development of innovative tire and rim management systems that can analyze and deliver data insights that drive productivity improvements.

Through the use of widgets and mobile applications, tire and rim management systems provide producers a snapshot of inventory availability, key inspection insights and tire pressure and temperature information across a fleet of vehicles. This presents a holistic view of tire performance to predict maintenance needs before they impact operations.

Dealers play a critical role here. They are trusted partners to manage these platforms, to provide long-term value and help customers best meet operational needs. Dealers can help manage the data being collected and work with a producer to interpret and act on tire performance insights to predict and address needs before they result in unplanned downtime.

Optimization of business operations

The adoption of technology is changing how producers do business. As jobsites become increasingly connected, intelligent solutions are at the forefront of impactful change.

Predictive maintenance enables operators to anticipate needs and develop strategies that enhance operations. Technology will continue to positively impact the bottom line and, ultimately, make mobility more efficient for producers.