Pipe Manipulator: Productivity in a Material Yard Environment
Abstract
This study of the Pipe Manipulator was undertaken to determine if it could improve the productivity of pipe movement at the Dow Corporation Freeport, Texas material laydown yard. The goals of the study were threefold: Assess the productivity of the Pipe Manipulator versus the standard Cherry Picker in performing repetitive pipe unloading and stacking activities; Assess the safety aspects of the Pipe Manipulator versus the Cherry Picker; Identify possible improvements and other focused tasks amenable to the Pipe Manipulator. upon analyzing the equipments' performances, the following conclusions were obtained: The Manipulator could not compete with the Cherry Picker in pipe movement productivity in its current configuration and usage mode even though the crew size was reduced from 5-6 workers for the Cherry Picker, to 1-2 workers for the Manipulator. The primary deficiency in the Manipulator's performance was its inability to achieve multi-pipe lifts like the Cherry Picker, however this can be changed with relatively small modifications; (2) the unloaded operation's safety could be significantly improved by the Manipulator since workers are removed from all possible unsafe conditions, and therefore, are presented from committing unsafe acts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA259705
Entities
People
- Craig A. Fulton
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin