AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION and labour organisation
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: Giampaolo SCHILLACIExpected Learning Outcomes
Ability to:
- set up and/or correctly evaluate the organization of the work of machine yards;
- proceed to mechanization of farms, entire districts or innovative crops for the area;
- design machinery fleets in relation to farm objectives, agronomic constraints and the socio-economic context;
- take into account and mutually organize the environmental, technological, economic and human factors that contribute to the achievement of the goals;
- operate with respect for natural and environmental resources and according to criteria of ergonomics and operator safety;
- recognize the aspirations of individuals and groups and employ them to improve the organization of work.
- set up and/or correctly evaluate the organization of the work of machine yards;
- proceed to mechanization of farms, entire districts or innovative crops for the area;
- design machinery fleets in relation to farm objectives, agronomic constraints and the socio-economic context;
- take into account and mutually organize the environmental, technological, economic and human factors that contribute to the achievement of the goals;
- operate with respect for natural and environmental resources and according to criteria of ergonomics and operator safety;
- recognize the aspirations of individuals and groups and employ them to improve the organization of work.
Course Structure
Lectures, with presentations of case studies, technical examination, drafting of technical papers.
If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported Syllabus.
As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs)
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
Required Prerequisites
Agricultural Mechanics and the preparatory skills reported for Agricultural Mechanics - Financial Mathematics
Attendance of Lessons
The discipline is evolving and is positively affected by the research in progress, consequently, although supported by texts and by the teacher's dispensation, it requires assiduous attendance, especially in view of the preparation of the final paper which will be discussed in the examination.
Detailed Course Content
The course deals with the issues of work organization and the choice of construction sites in relation to an analysis of the operating context. Subsequently, the aspects of calculating the costs of construction sites are explored. With the drafting of a report, the design of a machine park or the verification of an existing machine park is undertaken. Group management, idea formation and motivations complete the course.
Textbook Information
1 - Professor’s hand out and power point (in function of the managed topics)
2 - Lazzari e Mazzetto – Meccanica e Meccanizzazione – Ed. Reda Class Notes
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definitions - Mechanization and business structures | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 2 | Composition of the fleet of Mediterranean crops in relation to the needs of the crop and the agricultural, social and infrastructural context | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 3 | Machines that release eco-sensitive materials: delivery times and surfaces served | Teacher's materials |
| 4 | The work and its elementary phases: survey, time analysis | Teacher's materials |
| 5 | Evaluation of the organization of work | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 6 | Work capacity of agricultural machinery in continuous and discontinuous construction sites - machine queues | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 7 | Farm or district machinery fleet: project parameters: useful and available periods - productivity, manageable surfaces, working width | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 8 | Mutual sizing of tractors and operating machines | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 9 | Value, residual value and depreciation of machines | Lazzari and Mazzetto - Mechanics and Mechanization - Ed. Reda - Teacher's materials |
| 10 | Depreciation, provisions and reintegrations in company management and for the establishment, renewal, conservation of the fleet | Teacher's materials |
| 11 | Financing and calculation of internal or company financing for the purchase or renewal of the fleet | Teacher's materials |
| 12 | Outline for drafting the project | Teacher's materials |
| 13 | Operating costs per hour and per unit of product | Teacher's materials |
| 14 | Comparison between the costs of different construction sites and the threshold of convenience | Teacher's materials |
| 15 | Organization of business meetings and motivational aspects | Teacher's materials |
| 16 | Elements of ergonomics and safety of agricultural machinery | Teacher's materials |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Final oral exam. It includes the discussion of a paper drawn up by the Student on the design of a machine park or the verification of an existing machine park, drawn up according to guidelines discussed in class and published in the didactic material. The paper is drawn up in collaboration with the teacher and colleagues who participate in the pre-set reception meetings and must be sent to the teacher no less than 4 days from the exam date.
The evaluation of the oral interview is based on the relevance, correctness, comprehensibility of the answers, on the ability to make connections between the topics of the program and to report examples consistent with the topic under discussion, on the quality of the contents, on the properties of the technical language .
Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.
The evaluation of the oral interview is based on the relevance, correctness, comprehensibility of the answers, on the ability to make connections between the topics of the program and to report examples consistent with the topic under discussion, on the quality of the contents, on the properties of the technical language .
Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Elementary phases of work and work capacity of construction sites
Covered areas and working times in machinery sites with release of materials Evaluation parameters of sites and of the machinery fleet
Calculation of the farm - financing quota for the purchase of machinery and equipment Annual and hourly costs, formulas and graphs
Organization of work groups and motivational aspects
Covered areas and working times in machinery sites with release of materials Evaluation parameters of sites and of the machinery fleet
Calculation of the farm - financing quota for the purchase of machinery and equipment Annual and hourly costs, formulas and graphs
Organization of work groups and motivational aspects