FIELD INSIGHTS
Thoughts from the field on heavy equipment, mining, quarrying, wear, operations, business, and the decisions behind them.
More than two decades around this industry have taught me that some of the most useful lessons don't come from a brochure or a boardroom. They come from machines, operators, mechanics, customers, suppliers and sometimes from getting things wrong.
This is where I share some of those observations, along with industry developments and ideas I think are worth paying attention to.
Ground Engaging Tools (GET): What They Are, How They Wear and Why the Application Matters.
GET is one of the most abused and often underestimated systems on an excavator or loader. Understanding how it wears, what affects its performance and what the application is actually demanding is where better decisions begin…
Is Your GET Actually Performing? What to Look at Before Changing Systems.
Wear life alone doesn't tell the whole story. Tooth utilization, adapter condition, bucket protection, changeouts and operating hours all help show whether a GET system is actually doing its job…
Smarter Mining Decisions Start With What the Operation Is Actually Telling You
Purchase price is easy to see. What a component is actually costing the operation can be harder to recognize. Better decisions start by looking at what is happening in the field, not just what appears on the invoice…
Mining Momentum: How U.S. Policy Shifts Are Creating New Opportunities
More domestic mineral production doesn't only mean new mines. It can mean higher utilization of existing fleets, more pressure on maintenance and suppliers, and new questions about the resilience of everything required to keep producing…
More Than a Part Number: Why the Application Matters More Than the Catalog
A part number tells you what fits. It doesn't necessarily tell you what works best. The machine, material, application and expectations of the operation still matter long after the catalog gives you an answer…
Avodah Leadership: When Purpose Shapes Culture
Avodah can carry the meaning of work, service and worship. Three things we often separate, but perhaps shouldn't when thinking about leadership, stewardship and what we're actually building…
What Heavy Equipment Owners Actually Want From a Supplier
Equipment owners don't need another supplier promising everything. They need people who understand the application, communicate when things go wrong, tell the truth and are useful when the answer isn't obvious…
What Every Equipment Owner Wishes They Knew Sooner
Heavy equipment has a way of teaching expensive lessons. Price, maintenance history, operators, predictability and knowing when not to change something can all look very different after you've paid for the lesson…
Lessons From the Field: A Breakdown Tells You More Than What Broke
The failed component explains why a machine stopped. It doesn't always explain why it stayed down. A breakdown can expose dependencies, communication gaps and weaknesses in the system surrounding the repair…