Today’s construction industry is facing a shortage of skilled operators, making it critical that you get new ones up to speed as quickly as possible.Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) Technology Solutions Expert (TSE) Danny Williams emphasizes to customers that Komatsu’s proactive dozing control on intelligent machine control (IMC) dozers is an effective way to do that.

“Proactive dozing control helps inexperienced operators become productive faster because it mimics skilled seasoned operators through GPS grade control,” explained Williams, who began his career in the construction industry as an operator. “This is the stuff I dreamed about starting out, so I understand the frustrations of learning to move dirt as quickly as possible. Proactive dozing gives the operator the ability to use GPS from stripping to finish grade. The machine follows the model, making getting to finish grade as efficient as possible.”

Proactive dozing control is a fully integrated dozing control system that allows operators to perform auto-stripping, auto-spreading and high-production dozing, as well as finish grading. It provides real-time position of the machine to create a highly accurate elevation for the system to drive the blade to the precise grade needed.

IMC dozers always know where they are in relation to finished grade and work to effectively put the ideal load on each pass to maximize production and efficiency. It minimizes rework and the need for expensive fill.

“It saves material costs because you’re hitting targets without overcutting and having to use gravel or select fill; instead, you utilize the on-site materials more effectively,” noted Williams. “The dozer automatically looks for track slip while maximizing blade load. The key function of productive dozing is to match those two perfectly.”

Added benefits

Using proactive dozing control has additional benefits, according to Williams.

“Because you can do the work in less passes, wear and tear are reduced, which helps lower maintenance costs,” Williams said. “Additionally, operators using proactive dozing tell us that the ride is a lot better as the machine creates a smoother surface to run on compared to traditional methods. That helps reduce fatigue and makes operators more productive.”

If you are not utilizing proactive dozing control and want to get started, Williams said it’s simple to set up and use. He or one of KSM’s other TSEs are available to help.

“Contact us, and we can train your operators,” stated Williams. “We’re here to help ensure you’re getting the most out of your technology, whether it’s proactive dozing control or another solution.”

Click here to check out Danny's video tutorial on Komatsu’s proactive dozing control.

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