Issue link: https://construction.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1520107
7 Methodology continued Type continued Most users will have between three and five equipment types in a given category. Distinctions are often made between dozers or graders that are/aren't fitted with GPS blade control, in that they perform different functions and, in most cases, will have different rates. Machines on short-term rental provide an interesting example of the distinction between categories and types. If rental units are charged to jobs or maintained outside the norms established for the fleet then they are separated from owned units at a category level. If they are charged to jobs or maintained within the norms established for the fleet then they are separated from owned units at a type level. The classification of the fleet into clearly defined equipment types is extremely important for three reasons: 1 All units in a given type will share the same hourly, weekly or monthly rate. This means that estimators are "blind" as to which unit of a given type will actually be sent to the job to perform the work. Units of a given type all "cost" the same and do the same work. 2 The vast majority of fleet management decisions are based on values for deployment, utilization, availability, reliability and cost established at the type level. 3 All units in a given type have their costs summarized at a type level and "work together" to achieve their budgets and balance their books. One type – dozers – cannot be allowed to subsidize the cost of another type – excavators. Unit The unit field identifies the particular asset. It is the "anchor" of the whole system in that costs, histories and all other performance statistics are collected at a unit level. Work requests are initiated at a unit level, work orders are created at a unit level and data entered into B2W TRACK is done at a unit level. Clients often carry over a legacy unit numbering system because of its association with historical records. When this is not done, it is recommended that a simple four digit number is used with the first two numbers being the year of purchase and the last two being a series number for the assets purchased in the year. QUICK TIP One type of equipment – such as dozers – cannot be allowed to subsidize the cost of another type – such as excavators.