Mining Automation: Challenges and Strategies
Contributor:
Mining IQ Editorial
Posted: 02/13/2012 12:00:00 AM EST | 0
1. Maturing Industry
Posted: 02/13/2012 12:00:00 AM EST | 0
|
|
The benefits of automation in mining are indisputable; with the ability to increase productivity, precision of tasks, as well as the possibility to improve levels of safety. While the advantages of mining automation are clear, the costs and challenges associated with automation in the sector can be substantial.
Mining IQ Interviews Andrew Scott from Barrick Gold (Canada), Jock Cunningham and Mark Dunn from the CSIRO, Kerrie Unsworth from the University of Western Australia and CRC Mining, and Mal Jones from 3D-P about the current challenges associated with automation and possible solutions to address the issues.
1. Maturing Industry
Andrew Scott: One of the biggest challenges we’ve got as an industry is the maturity. A big challenge is handling the rate of change. We still have quite a wide range in ages in our work force. We still have operators that are 65 and over as well as people coming into the industry who are 19 and 20. So there is a huge age gap. We’ve also got a challenge in a lot of those older people in the industry which have a lot of knowledge is going to be leaving the industry in the next 10 to 15 years, so education of a younger workforce is paramount.
Jock Cunningham: Over the next few years, there won’t be significant change apart from a general shift in mine management and mine operators about the benefits of automation. Of course we’ll see a greater proportion of Gen Y operators as well, which we’ll come to expect a greater level of maturity in the operator interfaces. They have no problems with operating mining equipment, as if they were operating a gaming machine on a PC.
2. Buy – in from employees
Jock Cunningham: For mine automation to be effective, a critical element is getting commitment from management and operators and to have the required infrastructure installed to cater and adapt automation. A key aspect is gaining acceptance in the work environment to the introduction of automation technologies and realising new technology and automation is really an industrial research activity. Therefore, the project needs to be structured in a way that accommodates that – it’s not simply a design, construct and install permission-type operation.
Kerrie Unsworth: The people that are doing the work are the most important part of an organisation. Without them, and without their motivation and buy-in, the organisation will not be the success it could be. This seems like common sense, but you would be surprised how often we forget to think about the effects on the people who are doing the work. We think about strategy, we think about budgets, we think about technology – but we forget that it is people who hold the key to success for a company.
People are incredibly good at developing workarounds to new systems. So, while these new communication and automation systems may potentially have a very positive effect, companies need to make sure that they take their employees along with them so their benefits are fully realised.
3. Choosing the right technology at the right time
Mal Jones: Anything that is new always carries a risk. So the most important thing that any company can do is actually invest in time in evaluating technologies properly and evaluating the business case for those technologies. Does the use of technology actually validate the introduction of it? People often get drawn into the shining new object which is the latest buzzword or something like that. But there are significant break points for companies where if you don’t have enough happening on your mine, there may not be a valid reason to actually look towards these technologies right now, but further down the track. So certainly looking at the technology at the right level of maturity is one way of minimising the risk.
4. Lack of understanding from vendors
Mal Jones: All too often we see in particular radio vendors come in that like to sell products and not actually understand the environment or that application that customers are trying to support. Therefore it is extremely important to validate the vendors that you work with to make sure that they actually know and understand the applications that are being integrated to understand what the mining operation is. It’s important to evaluate this to ensure that you are well supported by the vendors you are choosing.
Mark Dunn: One of the main challenges when introducing new technologies is the level of complexity in the system level interconnectivity. When there are several vendors involved, it is crucial that each party is committed to the correct operation system as a whole, not simply focused on individual components.
5. Lack of an effective communication process
Kerrie Unsworth: Communication processes are only as good as the messages that go into them. If there is a blame culture or people are scared of making a mistake then the communication will be impaired regardless of the system that is put into place, which is why employee engagement and communication is so important.
We’ve just done some research with a mining company that was implementing what seemed like good communication policies and procedures and good shutdown practices but were still having problems – and it was because the people on the ground didn’t see themselves as a part of the company and so didn’t use them properly. All the hard work which had gone into developing these new practices and procedures was wasted because they weren’t appropriate for the situation.
If you take your employees along the way with you, then you will have a much easier time of improving both performance and safety. If you forget about them, then don’t be surprise if they start to throw spanners in the works!
|
Contributor:
Mining IQ Editorial |
-
Mine Planning Experts on Aligning Long Term Mine Plans -
Integrating Renewable Energy Generation into Remote Mine Sites -
Look to Cleanskins for Mining Jobs -
Automation to Cost 500 Mining Jobs -
AngloGold Broaching Nonblast Automated Continuous Mining of Deep Gold -
Safety in Mines World First Revealed - Mobile Underground Mine Gas Lab Launched -
Mining IQ Member Profile: David Madera, Chief Surveyor/Planner, Tancoal Energy -
World Bank: West African Miners Should Give Back To Local Economy -
Mine Ventilation Fan under Scrutiny at Pike River Investigation -
Mining Skills Shortage Focus: Workers won't move to NT for mining jobs
* = required.
Not a member yet? Sign up
You Should Check Out:
Advertisement
Events of Interest
-
Mine Site Automation & Communication WA 2012
Burswood Entertainment Complex, Perth, WA
August 28- 30, 2012 -
2nd Annual Mine Site Automation & Communication Africa 2012
Sandton Sun Hotel, Sandton, South Africa
July 23- 25, 2012 -
Mine Rescue & Emergency Management 2012
Royal on the Park, Brisbane, QLD
May 14- 17, 2012 -
Open Cut Mine Planning 2012
Venue to be Confirmed, Perth, WA
September 18- 19, 2012
You Might Also Like
-
Mine Automation: Leading the Way
Mine Automation: Leading the way Australia's rapidly expanding multi-billion dollar mining... Read more
Cole Latimer
-
Jock Cunningham on Mine Site Automation
In this video, Mining IQ interviews Jock Cunningham, Theme Leader, Transforming the Future Mine,
-
Automation and Robotics is the Future of Mining
With Rio Tinto recently announcing its half a billion dollar investment on driverless trains in its iron ore... Read more
Mining IQ Editorial
-
Real Time Mine Management and Control from Devex
Leading Brazilian firm Devex Technologia e Sistemas has brought its world class SmartMine control and
Advertisement
|
Reach Mining professionals through cost-effective marketing opportunities to deliver your message, position yourself as a thought leader, and introduce new products, techniques and strategies to the market.
Learn More » Join today and interact with a vibrant network of mining professionals, keeping up to date with the mining industry by accessing our wealth of Mining articles, videos, live conferences and more. Sign Up Today! |
| Mining IQ, a division of IQPC 2012 All rights reserved.Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Careers With IQPC | Contact Us | About Us |
|
Not a member? Sign Up
Reasons for Joining
Address your challenges through knowledge sharing with peers from our global network of specialists.
Benchmark your business initiatives with the who's who in the field.
Hear from industry pioneers how to maximize ROI in today's challenging economy.
And best of all It's FREE!