VALUE ANALYSIS OF HARVESTING SYSTEMS FOR OLIVES

Automation of olives harvesting is an important part of precision agriculture, in order to provide economic efficiency and high reliability (if possible, low or/and precision maintenance). This paper focuses on the logistics and functional analysis, complete with value analysis of the harvesting systems used in olive orchards. The work required a state-of-the-art study and presents the method used for value analysis and identification of the base functions for olive harvesting equipment. We used several criteria for future life cycle (technical, technological, manufacturing, exploitation, maintenance, recycling, etc.) and costs. Based on the study, steps were identified as the main necessary logistic and value functions. The results (functions) have been split into two categories: essential functions and supporting functions, which interact inside the harvesting system. The analysis of olive logistics took the following into consideration (in correlation with harvesting processes particularities): orchard types, olive varieties, and core product of post-harvesting technology.  The strictly necessary functions were identified for the minimum cost without diminishing quality, reliability and performance of the harvesting equipment. The results will be used for the optimization of a viable solution, which could be implemented in different specified conditions of olive orchards.