Influence of Harvester and Forwarder operator experience on forest harvesting activities in northeast Brazil

The forestry sector has experienced continuous growth in investments and technological innovations, particularly in harvesting operations, which have been significantly enhanced by these advancements. In this context, the systematic monitoring of operator performance is an essential tool for assessing individual progress over time, based on the experience acquired in machine operation. This approach enables managers to track learning curves, plan targeted training actions, and promote the continuous improvement of operational efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity evolution of Harvester and Forwarder operators as a function of field experience in a forestry company in the southwestern region of the Maranhão state, Brazil. The average time consumption for performing operational cycles and their elements was assessed, correlating the time spent with experience duration and the average individual volumes of the harvested areas. A time and motion study was used to evaluate operators without prior experience. The time consumed in each element of the operational cycle and the effective working time for cutting and extraction operations were determined. In the Harvester cycle, the “Processing” element accounted for the highest percentage of time consumption, whereas in the Forwarder cycle, the “Loading” stage was the most time-consuming, regardless of the operators’ level of experience. Correlation analysis showed that, for the Harvester, the average individual volumes of the harvested areas had a greater influence on the evolution of cycle time consumption than operator experience. Conversely, for the Forwarder, field experience showed a more significant correlation. The practical experience of operators showed a significant impact on productivity, with percentage gains of 71.0% for the Harvester and 84.6% for the Forwarder. These results demonstrate that the accumulation of operational experience is directly related to performance improvement, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of operator performance over time.