A Time and Motion Study for Evaluation of Apple Harvest Processes with Different Harvest Methods

HighlightsWorkers’ apple harvest processes with three harvest methods were evaluated and compared.All three harvest methods had low overall harvest efficiency.Harvest efficiency for the ladder-and-bucket method can be improved by reducing non-picking activities.Innovation for harvest platform systems should focus on improving fruit picking activities.Abstract. In recent years, harvest platforms are being increasingly used by apple growers in the U.S. and many other countries to replace the traditional ladder-and-bucket harvest method. However, the current harvest platforms still have low levels of automation, which limits their potential to achieve greater productivity improvement. This study was therefore aimed at analyzing the harvest process by fruit pickers with three distinct harvest methods and determining potential areas for efficiency improvement. Video recordings of workers with the traditional ladder-and-bucket method, DBR vacuum harvester, and Huron Fruit Systems harvest platform were collected at three commercial orchards during the 2018 harvest season. The videos were then analyzed, using the time and motion technique, and categorized into picking and non-picking activities. Results showed that the average picking time by workers for the ladder-and-bucket, DBR, and Huron harvest methods were 64%, 78%, and 83% of the total time, respectively. After further dividing the picking activity into approaching, detaching, and transporting actions, it was found that the detaching action, which is essential in fruit picking, accounted for only 30% to 32% of the total picking time for the three methods, with the remaining 2/3 of the time spent on the approaching and transporting actions. The ladder-and-bucket, DBR, and Huron harvest methods had a low overall apple detaching efficiency of 21%, 23%, and 26%, respectively, and an overall time index of 45%, 71%, and 80%, respectively (these two parameters were introduced for measuring harvest efficiency). Hence, significant opportunities exist for improving harvest efficiency for the three methods. For the ladder-and-bucket method, efforts should be made on improving non-picking activities, i.e., fruit unloading and minimizing the walking distance to the fruit unloading station or bin. For harvest platforms, efforts should be devoted to the development of innovative fruit catching or receiving and bin filling technologies to reduce fruit picking time (i.e., reducing the time needed to reach fruit on trees and transport picked fruit to conveyors) as well as alleviate the physical demand and occupational hazard for workers by eliminating the use of buckets. Keywords: Apple, Fruit picking, Harvest efficiency, Harvest platform, Horticulture crops, Vacuum harvest.