I was wondering if anyone out there would be willing to share their equipment life cycle plan? In other words, how long do you expect to use a piece of equipment before you consider it needing to be replaced?
At my previous employer we had developed a plan, but I did not bring it with me to my current job and before I re-create the "wheel" I am curious to hear what others use as a guide.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Scott
Until it doesn't work anymore (or I forget where I put it the last time I used it)!
Loyal
Forever........
Until the new technology is sufficiently better then the old technology to justify the outlay. I'm not in the accounting department but I would assume that all gear we replace has been both fully depreciated and charged out enough to pay for itself. Hopefully when the time comes you can either get a trade in value for the old gear or sell it on eBay.
20+ years
It depends on what equipment are you talking about.
But generally, we look at whether the new generation of equipment does increase our productivity or safety. Also, has the technology mature enough that there is little complains about it, (We do not have a big budget & we do not like to be beta testers)
Depreciation is a standard 5-year straight line. So by the time we have upgraded, it definitely paid itself but also it has little value left
sireath, post: 430442, member: 9370 wrote: Depreciation is a standard 5-year straight line. So by the time we have upgraded, it definitely paid itself but also it has little value left
Book value and market value are often very different things. A GNSS receiver depreciated to zero in 5 years might still be worth 20 percent of its acquisition cost on the open market.
It is tricky, because although the old equipment might still work perfectly there is a good chance the new stuff is way faster, and actually a lot cheaper than you originally paid. In my opinion, if the new stuff is way more efficient, then get it. If not, then carry on.
7 years. That is the life of my Leica robotic total station. I have bought about 15 of the things over the last 17 years. GPS equipment is about 10 years. The GPS units do no wear out as quick but the improving technology makes them obsolete. We are just now seeing L5 and L2C come on line. A data collector only last about three years. I think my guys use them to hammer pins in with them.
If the man who pays for the equipment is the end user them multiple by 1.5.
You should include the cost of replacement in every job knowing the new equipment will cost 10% more than what you paid for the current equipment. As the technology improves the cost of equipment goes up. if you have not budgeted to buy a more technologically advanced piece of equipment at the end of the lifecycle, then you can't compete with the other survey who has. Your cost to do the job is higher.
Hey mate,
You need to also consider the availability of spare parts aswell. We've been caught out with scenario's where the manufacturer has stopped making parts after a certain date, making it impossible to repair if you can't source a secondhand instrument to salvage parts from. I think Leica have set in place 7 years of support after an instrument model is discontinued or superceded.
Also, if the technology present in the older models is continued in later models than it might prolong the serviceability life, for example the Leica 1200+ having largely a similar format as the Viva series which superceded it. Sales rep's should be able to give a better indication of lifecycle for their jiggers and GPS units.
Take good care of your gear.
1923 Lietz transit....
I still have Topcon gts3c....
Nate The Surveyor, post: 430459, member: 291 wrote: I still have Topcon gts3c....
That's awesome... you can refill your coffee while you wait for it to get a shot!!
Analog equipment can last forever, until it gets dropped.
Electronic is definitely limited. You won't see 50 year old electronic gear still working.
But analog may still wok as good as the day it was made, but is too slow, requires more skill to use, and the through-put in the office Becomes costly.
So life cycle physical v life cycle practical.
Truth be told, my son expressed an interest in pulling out my old T16 and turning some angles with it, so we'll be doing that this weekend. The old girl hasn't been used in years will be interested to see how the calibration is on it.
