The Macquarie Dictionary defines `information' as: knowledge
communicated or received concerning some fact or circumstance;
(in communicating theory): a quantitative measure of the
contents of a message. For mining companies investing in data
capture and information processing technology for operations
management is a key issue. Beyond producing performance
related information that employees can relate to it is being able to
deliver that information into the workplace when it is required, to
the employees that can utilise it. To be effective the data needs to
be received and understood as `information'. The technology is
now available and proven to enable `information' to be delivered
into the mining workplace adding value to the activities
performed by mine employees. The application of computers and information technology in
the mining industry has typically been limited to the resource
definition and planning stages, accounting and administration and
the process plants that treat the ores and minerals. The mining extraction processes that consume expenditure and
determine output in a mining operation occur in an environment
dominated by unpredictable events and variable conditions. The
mining operation has long been regarded as an inexact science
conducted in unpredictable circumstances with many independent
variables affecting the output and resultant cost of production.
Financial accountants keep track of expenditure and
management accountants analyse the cost of production usually
on a weekly or monthly basis but all this effort can't affect the
outcome, that was determined by the real time events and
variations of circumstances over a week ago. Such reporting and
analysis can result in conclusions being drawn about what
improvements can be made and how you might do better next
time, but generally the data is not detailed enough, is inaccurate
or misrepresents the real issues. The capital investment required for any mining operation is
substantial and comparable to other industries such as
manufacturing. The performance and utilisation of manufacturing
plants is usually closely monitored down to the lowest level of
detail. Many modern plants are controlled and optimised using
programmable intelligent devices and monitors display real time
performance to the operators and prompt them to make informed
decisions to maximise production and minimise wastage.
Technology suitable for the mining industry is now widely
available and has proven to be a reliable and powerful tool for
the optimisation of mining operations. This paper focuses on the latest information technology
developed by Modular Mining Systems that has been
implemented in mining operations worldwide. The benefits
reported by the mining companies utilising real time information
technology over the past 15 years have generally related to
optimisation of truck fleet allocation and material blending. Some
mining operations have reported improvements in equipment
utilisation of greater than 20 per cent. With the development of
real time graphical display screens in the operators cabins the
benefits of information delivery can be harnessed to make
employees more effective in the workplace.