Can challenging ourselves to think differently about scheduling pain points provide the key to unlocking new approaches and ultimately success? Join our mining engineering experts Grant Malcolm (MEC Mining), Steve Craig (Oreology) and Eduardo Coloma (Maptek) as they examine the challenges facing schedulers and identify key areas where technology solutions can make a difference.
Traditional mine scheduling methods present many challenges:
- Solutions that operate on a siloed view of the mining operation.
- Results that have no bearing on the long term success of the mine as a business.
- Parametric and economic assumptions that have little or no bearing on actual performance.
A mining operation is complex and mine planners have a difficult job. They need to act swiftly and decisively in the present while being mindful of the impact that any changes may have on the future of the mine.
For many schedulers the frustration lies in knowing what needs to be done, but their tools are not agile enough to change plans on the fly.
Scheduling is inherently complex. The mathematics alone can be daunting. A scenario with 1 pushback, 5 benches and 3 periods presents a possible 56 combinations. Add an intricate extraction sequence and we begin to see the size of the challenge for finding a practical, economic and optimised solution.
Not so long ago a scheduler’s workflow involved multiple packages, disconnected systems and siloed processes. Mine planners today can access solutions which model complex operations using different algorithms designed to mimic reality. Parallel computing or cloud processing delivers faster schedules, more cost-effectively.
Can challenging ourselves to think differently about scheduling pain points provide the key to unlocking new approaches and ultimately success? Join our expert panel of mining engineers as they discuss these issues and more.
Visit our website to learn more about the panel or register now.
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