**5. Research into the operational reliability of forest machines**

This methodology of operational reliability research is intended for monitoring the actual condition of the machine in operating conditions and evaluation of selected indicators of operational reliability of selected forest harvesting machines.

There are several methods of processing information on reliability indicators, but some of them are very complex and difficult to apply under normal operating conditions [18]. The information processing method listed below is simpler but accurate enough which in turn facilitates its implementation in real business conditions.

The methodological procedure of mathematical processing of empirical information on the reliability indicators of forest machines is as follows:

1.Create a Machine Card for each device separately

The machine card contains:


Combined organizational form is composed of a combination of central, de-central and integrated organizational form of maintenance activities, while the principles of management are changing within hierarchical levels [19]. This form is most convenient for companies in the metallurgy industry, with a broad production program and with a large number of workers with various structure of qualification**.**

The examined forest machines of various manufacturers are necessary for the needs of data collection from operation and for the needs of subsequent analysis and evaluation divided into the following subgroups [20]:


## **6. Conclusions**

The main reason for paying attention to this area of reliability and maintenance is that for every company, creating the most reliable system possible is a challenge and nowadays a common need. It is therefore necessary to be able to assess the reliability of all machinery and equipment and, in the event of deterioration in the characteristics of the means of transport monitored or stagnation, to be able to take appropriate steps to remedy this situation over time. The dependence of companies and people on technology is growing, and it is therefore necessary to ensure that the failure rate of used machinery and equipment is kept to a minimum or that machinery and equipment have maximum controlled maintenance based on real operating conditions and conditions [22].

Regarding the electronic systems used in forest machinery, we can say that this area of the logging and transport process has already been affected by Industry 4.0. All manufacturers try to implement their own know-how, their own technologies, which they try to address their customers and operators of the vehicles. Most of the mentioned systems of manufacturers are usable only with a certain limitation and therefore the manual collection of operational data is currently used for the evaluation of operational data. As advances in software and hardware for vehicles as such are growing very rapidly, there is a real need for tools to be available to collect and evaluate in-service data, thus increasing the efficiency of data evaluation and the operational reliability of these vehicles. In the future, the use of Industry 4.0 for the

#### *Perspective Chapter: Analysis of the Operational Reliability of Forest Equipment DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107402*

collection of operational data using computer technology as well as its subsequent evaluation is interesting. At present, it is possible to collect operational data only partially through the control unit and then their laborious analysis.

Operational reliability prediction grows with the introduction of software and hardware innovations. For this reason, it is clearly necessary to say that Industry 4.0. has also affected this area of industry, which greatly affects the use of these machines and equipment in real operating conditions [23].

The maintenance organization system is an important internal source for increasing the reliability of machinery and equipment. A positive result can be achieved through planning, management, improvement of work organization and data recording up to the management of spare parts [24]. In other words, a maintenance system is a means of maintaining or restoring equipment to good technical condition for the duration of its technical life or for a period which its operator can maintain in view of the amount of costs incurred.

The current state of the study of operational reliability in real conditions still carries a great deal of ambiguity and it can be said that the electronic area (software as well as hardware) has not yet matured, even with the current progress in the field of forest machinery. The high requirements for care and processing are closely related to the requirements for the quality and reliability of forestry machines and technological equipment. And these, in turn, are closely related to the care of the devices in question. The care of equipment used in forestry consists of daily operation, treatment and supervision of their operation, activities aimed at putting new equipment into operation, eliminating malfunctions and defects, improving technical condition, technical modernization, storage, preservation of temporarily decommissioned forestry machines and technological equipment and for the liquidation of decommissioned forestry machines and technological equipment and finally for the replacement of decommissioned forestry machines and technological equipment with new ones. The current and prospective degree of mechanization and automation of production in forestry, as well as the tendency to increase the performance of forestry technology, establish as one of the primary tasks the provision of its operational reliability. The system of organizing maintenance represents an important internal source of increasing the reliability of machines and equipment. A positive result can be achieved through planning, management, improving the organization of work and recording data up to the management of spare parts. In other words, the maintenance system is a means for equipment to keep them in good technical condition or restore this good technical condition for the duration of their technical life or for the period that their operator is able to maintain considering the amount of costs incurred.
