Skip to main content

Caterpillar launches monitoring service for both man and machine

Caterpillar has launched a 24/7 monitoring service to oversee the human factor in machinery operations. Through in-cab and wearable safety technologies, analysts at Caterpillar’s 24/7 Monitoring Centre correlate data about the health and productivity of operators and equipment. The information can reveal the magnitude of conditions such as fatigue and distraction and their impact on operations. “Our customers want better visibility of how behaviour impacts safety and productivity,” said Tim Crane,
December 10, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
New Cat machines provide extensive data using telematics
Caterpillar has launched a 24/7 monitoring service to oversee the human factor in machinery operations

Through in-cab and wearable safety technologies, analysts at 178 Caterpillar’s 24/7 Monitoring Centre correlate data about the health and productivity of operators and equipment.

The information can reveal the magnitude of conditions such as fatigue and distraction and their impact on operations.

“Our customers want better visibility of how behaviour impacts safety and productivity,” said Tim Crane, Caterpillar’s safety services manager. “This innovative solution offers our customers the opportunity to mitigate risk and improve productivity.”

Caterpillar’s solution uses industry-leading technologies to gain visibility of risk, he said. Property damage, increased fuel burn and tire abuse have all been tied to fatigued or distracted operators.

The Driver Safety System (DSS), developed by Seeing Machines, an alliance partner of Caterpillar, includes an in-cab camera and alert system to notify the operator the moment a fatigue or distraction event occurs.

Events are tracked by analysts who also capture operator sleep quantity and quality information provided through the wrist-worn Cat Smartband, an actigraphy solution powered by Fatigue Science.

The enhanced visibility to risks extends beyond front-line employees to expose improvement opportunities throughout the organisation, including education and training, shift scheduling, leadership coaching and other cultural elements.

The DSS and Cat Smartband are part of a growing suite of tools that assist customers in improving safety by recognising that some risks are natural, inevitable and fully manageable, if made visible.

Combined with Cat machine data available through EMSolutions, the Cat MineStar System and the Cat Vital Information Management System (VIMS), operator performance data from the DSS and Smartband paints a powerful picture of fatigue and distraction risk and its impact on productivity and profitability.

“Technology alone is not the silver bullet for a safer or more productive operation,” said George Taylor, vice president of Caterpillar’s customer services support division.

“In fact, most technologies fail without proper consideration of the organisational culture and a plan to manage change. Caterpillar’s safety solutions bring management and employees together to achieve excellence, providing customers the greatest opportunity for successful implementation,” said Taylor.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • OEMs unveil raft of major new excavator and wheeled loader models
    May 13, 2025
    Original equipment manufacturers have launched a range of new excavators and wheeled loaders including electric models, and features such as autonomous driving, remote control advanced driver assistance and special applications. Liam McLoughlin reports.
  • New excavators dig more efficiently
    March 18, 2016
    Increased performance and more durable construction are key features of new generation excavators – Mike Woof writes. All the major equipment manufacturers are introducing new hydraulic excavators to meet market demand. These machines are offering increased output at the same time as producing lower emission levels and burning less fuel than before. From Caterpillar for instance comes its new 330F, which features a maximum operating weight of 29.75tonnes and is powered by a 178kW Cat C7.1 ACERT diesel that
  • Innovative compaction advances
    July 23, 2024

    Innovative asphalt compaction machines are now being introduced by several of the major manufacturers, with solutions offering improved working efficiency and performance.

    Three of the most innovative developments for asphalt rollers come from Dynapac, BOMAG and Hamm, although new asphalt compactors are also being introduced by other firms such as Ammann and Caterpillar.

  • Valerann wins AI European Space Agency deal
    April 25, 2025
    Valerann’s traffic monitoring contract is from ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme which supports services that use space technology and data in markets such as transportation.