Blogue | Attrix

Energy analysis, yes, but then what?

Written by Patrick Vallerand | Jun 27, 2024 9:26:15 PM

Today, the road transport industry benefits from various subsidy programs for energy analyses of heavy vehicle fleets. These initiatives offer opportunity for companies to take stock of their operations and make informed make informed decisions for the future. As I often like to say: "You have to take your nose of the tree to see the forest.


The integration of new technologies and new types of propulsion is shaking up the market and introduces new constraints that it is crucial to take into account as we the future. Careful analysis of operational data proves to be an extremely revealing exercise. revealing exercise. For example, when we present the time spent idling, which can sometimes represent which can sometimes represent several hundred days for a transport fleet, the reactions are often lively and surprising.

However, this analysis process is nothing new. Many have already undertaken this painstaking exercise in the past, painstakingly accumulating every invoice, every mileage, etc. Unfortunately, the impression often left is that this effort was for nothing, having time and money with no tangible results. I have heard operators say that these analyses were requests from marketing and that, in the end and end up forgotten in a drawer.

The step that is often missing in these processes is control. This word, which can be frightening, doesn't mean controlling people, it means controlling operations. It's about making sure that the changes  bring the expected savings. If an operations analysis takes six months to determine recommendations, it's unlikely that the exercise will be repeated the following year to check to verify progress. It's time to demystify these perceptions and embrace technology to truly take control of your operations and achieve the results results.

In continuous improvement, we often talk about the DMAAC approach: define, measure, analyze, improve, control. When we carry out an energy analysis, we can consider that the first three steps have been completed. We've defined the objective, measured the operations and analyzed the data. Following this analysis, recommendations are made. the improvement phase begins. The recommendations are implemented and operations continue. However, after one year, we look at the overall budget of liters of fuel consumed, and we see that the 25% savings announced for the installation of auxiliary heating systems are not being achieved. The project, although costly, is not delivering the results, which is frustrating and demoralizing, especially for those who have invested time and resources in the process.

Setting up monitoring indicators is essential to the success of this type of project. The  provides real-time access to operational data. When combined with a good business intelligence analysis platform, it's easy to track savings in real time and adjust actions accordingly. Analysis is only a part of the project when it comes to reducing your energy footprint. structure is the key to success.

In conclusion, it is imperative for the road transport industry not to underestimate the importance of the steps that follow the energy analysis. Only rigorous control and continuous ensure that the changes made produce the savings and environmental benefits environmental benefits. Embracing these practices not only leads to better energy performance, but also to a significant reduction in operating costs and and greenhouse gas emissions.