27 Sep Mining the Future
By Gerhard Greeff, Divisional Manager PM&C, and Neels Van Der Walt, Business Development Manager, Iritron
Iritron’s Gerhard Greeff and Neels Van Der Walt, reflect on the trend in the mining sector of Smart Mining and Digitizing the entire mining value chain against a backdrop of new technologies and the availability of an often-overwhelming plethora of real-time data made available by networking and the ever-growing number of online systems as a result of connectivity.
It is vital to be able to see ‘the wood from the trees’ and to step back and look at all dimensions including people, processes, business drivers, information, ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) and technology, and to formulate a strategy and roadmap considering the current maturity of systems and people, gaps that exist, opportunities and dependencies.
Multi-Dimensional Smart Connected Mine Strategy, Blueprint and Roadmap
An approach adopted successfully by leading global mining houses is to develop a Multi-Dimensional Smart Connected Mine Strategy, Blueprint and Roadmap. The Strategy needs to include the important aspects of People, Processes, Technology and Information and needs to be aligned with the company’s Business and Operational Strategies. It is also important to consider Contemporary Global Mining Trends including the Digitization of the Mining Value Chain that is accelerated by the emergence and maturing of technologies such as AI, ML and IIOT, and trends including connected machines and connected workers. The growing importance of the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit to ensure sustainability and compliance to ESG regulations and responsibilities, necessitates the need to include these aspects in the consideration for the Smart Connected Mine Strategy. A good strategy will follow a phased approach including a high-level implementation roadmap that takes into consideration technology and resource maturity, dependencies, and short-, medium- and longer-term objectives.
Technology
The Smart Connected Mine Strategy must address and include opportunities that are aligned to contemporary trends in mining globally, and the emergence and maturing of new technologies. This includes the Digitization of the Mining Value Chain, Autonomous Remote Mining, Mining Operations Management (MOM), Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), Smart Sensors, Industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial Machine Learning (ML), Industry 4.0 and Integrated Remote Operating Centres (IROC). The important resource of Information and the considerations of On Premise, Hybrid and Cloud is addressed with a specific focus on plant information and analytics.
Alignment with High-Level Business and Operational Strategies is of the utmost importance to ensure alignment of technology with business goals. This will ensure buy-in from the C-suite executives, and the adequate allocation of resources needed for the implementation of the strategy.
People
The Connected Worker is a major trend in contemporary mining. The Smart Connected Mine Strategy will impact all levels of the operation, from plant operators to C-suite executives. To ensure the implementation of the strategy is embraced by all, it is important to involve input from all levels of the organization in the development of the strategy. Personnel safety and wellbeing are furthermore of the utmost importance and a key aspect that needs to be considered for the strategy.
Mining Operations Management
Smart Mining Operations Management (MOM) includes the focus areas of Production Management, Quality Management, Inventory Management and Plant Asset Management. MOM spans the entire mining value chain, from the face / pit to the port, and includes the digitization of the entire value chain. Leading MOM technology solutions provides for the integration to plant control systems, third party Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) systems and Enterprise Resource Management Systems (ERP) among others. MOM is the ideal platform for implementing an industry 4.0 strategy and can provide for all levels of analytics from foundational analytics to advanced predictive and prescriptive analytics that is based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Barcoding, QR Codes, RFID, Laser Volumetric Scanning, Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) scheduling and tracking, the connected worker and smart mobile devices all form part of the MOM technology landscape.
Key business and operational drivers enabled by MOM technology include cost saving, plant optimization, digitization, operational excellence and providing near real-time visibility into what is happening in the operation. ESG and a safer, cleaner and sustainable operation can be enabled using MOM technology. MOM technology also enables the connected worker and connected plant.
The benefits of formulating a Multi-Dimensional Smart Connected Mine Strategy, Blueprint and High-Level Roadmap include the following:
- Allows for the consideration of different options, alternatives, and best practices.
- Allows for the consideration of new innovative processes and procedures enabled by technology.
- Ensures best practice is followed, and that the Smart Connected Mining Strategy, Blueprint and Implementation roadmap is aligned with the business and operational strategy.
- Aligns business stakeholders with the Smart Connected Mine Strategy, Blueprint and Implementation Roadmap.
- Enables Smart Connected Mine initiatives planning and budgeting.
- Serves as the foundation for future Smart Connected Mine projects and initiatives and assist the business to prioritize these initiatives.
- Allows mine management to be better informed to engage with technology providers, to request quotations and evaluate responses.
Iritron has more than 20 years’ experience in the Mining, Metals and Minerals sector and have completed numerous successful large-scale projects for a number of leading global mining houses.
ENDS.
About Iritron
Iritron is a Level 2, B-BBEE empowered engineering, integration and manufacturing company providing solutions in the fields of electrical, instrumentation, control systems and decision support systems. We have extensive local and international engineering expertise and a proven track record across various industries.
Contact:
Gerhard Greeff
Divisional Manager PM&C | Iritron
Contact: 082 654 0290
Email: Gerhard.greeff@iritron.co.za
Media Contact:
Charles Poulter
Account Manager | SWM Communications
Contact: 076 812 8429
Email: charles@swmcommunications.co.za