The challenge of accurate measurement

At Pro Bark Industries, accuracy in measuring outbound material is critical. With such a high volume of material leaving the yard annually, precise volume measurements are critical to ensure accuracy.

“We normally don’t scan in, because it’s not as important to for us to count the yardage as it comes in because it gets sorted out into different products,” Rory explains. “For us, it’s really important outbound to know what the yardages are,”

Before implementing Loadscan, Pro Bark relied on a manual process for measuring material volume. Loader operators would estimate the amount of material by counting the number of loader bucket scoops and multiplying by the known yardage of the bucket, typically 12 cubic yards. However, this system was far from perfect.

“You’re kind of guesstimating; the loader operators basically just count buckets. They know the yardage of the machine bucket and then they go from there. But it’s definitely not ideal to do it that way because there’s quite a bit of guesswork that that goes into that way of doing it,” Rory admits.

This process was prone to errors. Depending on how the material was scooped or how consistent the loader operator was, the volume could vary – sometimes significantly.

“A loader bucket is built to a certain amount of cubic yards. We usually run 12-yard buckets but, depending on how you dig into a pile or whatever happens if you shake out too much or you don’t shake out enough, you might you might be at 10 yards or you might be at 15 yards,” Rory explains.

Over time, this led to inconsistencies in volume and, ultimately, could affect both customer satisfaction and inventory management.

Real-time monitoring for better control

One of the most valuable aspects of Loadscan for Pro Bark has been its real-time monitoring capabilities. Rory now has the ability to keep track of the volume of every load that leaves the yard, from his office.

“It’s nice because being able to have the [MyScanner] cloud app that’s on the computer, I can see every load that comes in, and I can keep up with it as the day progresses,” he explains.

“For example, if I notice that there’s something off with the loader operator loading trucks, and if he’s loading light or heavy, then I can make that phone call and let them know to lighten up or to put more on,” Rory says.

“Also, if you have multiple scanners, you can — on your computer in your office — remotely look into your scanners. So it’s just really convenient to use… and it’s also very accurate.”

This enables him to catch any discrepancies as soon as they occur.

This has helped Pro Bark dial in their volumes for each load and fine-tune the process to ensure that they are consistently hitting their targets.

“I think we’ve really been able to get our average yardage on every load. We’ve really been able to dial that in to get it to where we want it to be, so we’re not giving away too much and we’re not shorting people,” Rory continues.

This precision has been critical to maintaining both Pro Bark’s profitability and satisfaction for its customers.

Preventing overloads and underloads

The LVS system has been instrumental in preventing both overloads and underloads. By providing precise volume data, Loadscan ensures that each truck is filled with the correct amount of material, reducing the risk of delivering too much or too little. Rory notes that accurately measuring loads is particularly important for ensuring fairness in customer transactions:

“You obviously don’t want to short people…or give it away for free either,” he says.

In the past, the manual system meant that occasional inconsistencies could lead to situations where material was lost, or customers weren’t receiving the volume they paid for.

“It adds up at the end of the season, for sure,” Rory points out.

Since the installation of the Loadscan LVS, those discrepancies have been virtually eliminated.

Scalability and industry reputation

Although Pro Bark is still relatively new to using Loadscan, Rory is already seeing the benefits in terms of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The system has integrated seamlessly into their day-to-day operations, and they are starting to gather useful data that will inform their long-term planning.

“At the end of the year, we’ll take a hard look at the numbers,” says Rory. “It’s also a great way to make sure that you’re matching the hard numbers to what your projections are.

“If you’re purchasing material, and if that’s getting scanned in, then you want to make sure that you’re not getting shorted and that everything’s adding up, so it’s a good way to failsafe your operations as far as taking in material and then sending it out, so it’s a good way to double check things.

The benefits of Loadscan in handling material variability

Another challenge Pro Bark faces is the variation in material moisture content, which can affect the weight of certain products. Materials like soil can be particularly finicky, as excess moisture can result in varying weights, which is where Loadscan’s LVS provides a clear advantage by measuring volume rather than weight, which eliminates the complications that arise from varying moisture content.

The accuracy of Loadscan’s volume measurements, unaffected by moisture content, has made it an ideal solution for Pro Bark’s operations.

Collaborative industry environment

Pro Bark’s relationships with larger local companies in the bark, mulch and compost industries have also been strengthened by the use of the Loadscan LVS. As Rory explains, many of the other industry players, have a strong history with Loadscan, and rely on the system to track their material volumes.

Loadscan’s reputation in the industry, built on success stories around the reliability and accuracy of the Loadscan system, helped influence Pro Bark’s decision to invest in the technology.

“It was a word-of-mouth situation,” Rory says. “The bigger players have several of them at all their locations and, knowing how much these other companies rely on them and use them and don’t have any issues with it.”

This has created an open, collaborative environment where companies can share knowledge, resources and even customers.

“We tend to play nice with everyone because some companies offer products that we don’t offer,” he explains. “Rather than tell a customer ‘we don’t sell that, sorry I can’t help you’, it’s way more beneficial to make a call and say ‘hey, we have a customer that’s looking for this. We’re just going to resell it to them’, and they’re fine with that.”

A valuable investment for Pro Bark Industries

Rory believes that Loadscan has had a transformative effect on Pro Bark Industries. By providing precise, real-time volume measurements, Loadscan has eliminated the guesswork that previously led to inconsistencies in outbound shipments. The system has not only improved operational efficiency but also provided Pro Bark with the tools to maintain strong relationships with their customers and ensure that each load is accurate.

As Rory sums up, “For something that’s as sophisticated as it is, it’s really user-friendly. There’s no contact. It’s really easy to set up and use as far as the setup goes and how you adjust it.

“It’s just been a big help, for sure.”

Background on PR Russell

Established with a commitment to quality and reliability, PR Russell has become a cornerstone of the bark and mulch industry in the USA’s North-East.

The company is known for its dedication to providing high-quality products while ensuring customer satisfaction. However, like many businesses in the bulk material industry, PR Russell faced challenges in measuring and loading products efficiently. Traditional methods often led to discrepancies, customer complaints, and wasted time.

The shift to Loadscan LVS

Recognising the need for improvement, PR Russell decided to invest in the Loadscan LVS, a transition Marco describes as a game-changer.

“Now loading is just loading. Come to the ramp, we’re going to load you up and you move on, so we saved a lot of time.”

The LVS technology makes the measurement process much more efficient, allowing for precise volume calculations without the need for manual intervention.

Efficiency gains

With the implementation of Loadscan, PR Russell experienced substantial time savings during the loading process. Carrier highlights that the need for the truck driver to monitor the loader operator has been eliminated.

“The loading was a process where now it’s just streamlined,” he explains.

This newfound efficiency has allowed the company to serve more customers in less time, ultimately leading to increased productivity.

In addition, the accuracy of the Loadscan system has transformed how PR Russell manages its operations.

“Every time we did testing, it was on the money,” Carrier states, pointing out that the consistency has virtually eliminated customer complaints about short loads.

“Once we had that system [Loadscan LVS], that went quiet. We don’t talk about that anymore.

“It’s a big deal…and it’s accurate,” he adds.

Improved measurement and training

The Loadscan LVS has not only enhanced operational efficiency but has also improved the way the loader operators operate.

Carrier emphasises the importance of measurement in the improvement process: “In order to improve it, you have to measure it. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it” – Marco Carrier, PR Russell

The Loadscan system provides precise data, allowing operators to understand their performance better.

“It was really a great deal for us. It saved a lot of time; it’s a good training tool for our loader operators.” Carrier explains.

This training aspect has been crucial, as operators can now receive immediate feedback on their performance. For instance, if a customer requests 80 yards of product but an operator mistakenly loads 81 yards, the system flags the discrepancy, enabling corrective action.

Navigating volume and weight challenges

The bark and mulch industry often deals with a wide range of different products, and Marco points out that the weight and volume of the materials handled at PR Russell can vary significantly.

“We deal with both extremes. When we deal with cedar bark, you can put 100, 110 yards onto a trailer and be at legal weight. If we deal with our aged material, once we get to 72 yards, we’re at weight capacity, so it’s a huge variation in that case.”

This presents challenges in accurately converting between weight-based purchases and volume-based sales.

Before using a Loadscan volume scanner, PR Russell struggled with this conversion.

“So this is where we would scratch our head a lot of time if we didn’t have a good way to measure the yardage.

“We did not really know how to do our conversion between everything we buy by weight to everything we’re selling by volume,” he says.

With the Loadscan system, however, they have developed a better understanding of their operations.

“There’s always variation obviously, but we have a way better understanding of where we’re going,” he asserts.

The bottom line: A valuable investment

Reflecting on the impact of the Loadscan LVS, Carrier declares,

“Looking back, it’s the best investment we’ve ever done for the industry.”

“…it’s the best investment we’ve ever done for the industry” – Marco Carrier, PR Russell

This statement underscores the profound changes the system has brought to PR Russell’s operations, highlighting the benefits of increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and enhanced operator performance.

Conclusion

PR Russell’s adoption of the Loadscan LVS has transformed its operational efficiency and customer satisfaction levels. By moving away from outdated measurement techniques, the company has streamlined its loading processes, reduced complaints, and fostered a culture of continuous improvement through precise measurement.

As Marco aptly summarises, the investment in Loadscan has not only optimised their operations but has also set a new standard in the bark and mulch industry, highlighting the significant advantages that technology can bring to traditional industries.