The mineral processing industry is in boom times. The focus on mill availability and therefore profitability has never been greater, as grinding mill maintenance often dictates the entire plant shut down duration._x000D_
Advances in mill systems' quality and reliability and the faster, safer relining afforded by RME's Mill Relining Systems have significantly enhanced grinding plant availability and utilisation._x000D_
Yet relining performance is still affected by the design and planning by a team of stakeholders long before the maintenance team set foot in the mill._x000D_
For a greenfield grinding plant project, these team players include: 1. project owner, 2. project manager, 3. mill supplier, 4. liner supplier, 5. plant operating personnel, 6. plant maintenance personnel, 7. mill relining crew, and 8. mill reline system supplier (RME)._x000D_
The complex and sometimes competing design demands of mill construction and operation together with the pressure of tight timelines can result in even simple maintenance requirements being overlooked let alone optimising plant design and planning for maintenance._x000D_
This paper identifies all the involved stakeholders in an effective mill relining 'team' and gives principles and considerations for each to more effectively achieve the goals within their vital roles._x000D_
This paper is aimed to be a practical guide for grinding mill designers and planners to more fully exploit the advances in Mill Relining Systems and improve their mill profitability._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Smith, D, 2008. Designing and planning for maximum grinding mill availability - a team approach, in Proceedings MetPlant 2008, pp 117-146 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).