2. Schedule Enablers – What Do You Have Most Control Over?

2. Schedule Enablers – What Do You Have Most Control Over?

This article follows on from article 1 The Broken Stocks Saga and I would suggest you read that article first.

For me, this learning was one of the very thought provoking concepts to come from this period. In theory Short Term Planning Department were responsible for planning the time period 0-3 months, however, in reality the Grade Controllers were actually the VERY short term planners, even though they were positioned in Mine Production department. The Grade Controllers dictated where excavators were located each shift and which operated, as they were tasked with producing specification quality stockpiles. I would note this is really all that everyone is at the mine site to help facilitate – producing the required quantity of saleableproduct!

The Grade Controller dictated where all mining equipment worked and the Shift Supervisor was charged with maximising equipment productivity, given the equipment working locations. Consequently, why should Mine Planning Department even try and schedule where the shovels would dig on a short-term basis? The reality is that they don’t dictate this, the Grade Controller always will, as they carry responsibility for hitting the mine quality and quantity targets

Ah, but there is a way the mine planners can lead the Grade Controllers where they want them to go, which is to follow the 3 month plan. They can indirectly facilitate the shovels working where they want them to, without scheduling them. That is by focussing on scheduling of the activity that is the enabler for excavation. In most instances this is the mining activity immediately prior to excavation in the mining sequence, which is usually drill and blast. If you focus on scheduling the drill and blast, which absolutely should incorporate the management of broken stocks (as per my previous article), the shovels are sure to follow. They have to as they have no choice, if it is not broken they can’t dig it!!

Short Term Planning Department continually provided feed back to us that we (Grade Control) were digging the wrong pits and weren’t conforming with Annual Plan pit quantities. Now I understand the need to follow longer term plans, differing pits from planned quantities over a sustained period can have serious implications on numerous elements, such as maintaining sufficient mining faces, infrastructure and capital requirements. But as the Grade Control Superintendent, force me into a choice between producing the correct quality product, or following the Annual Plan and it’s a no brainer – a quality product wins every time. And when you have 8 quality targets and broken stocks are off spec, then you have very little flexibility, as there are few combinations of ore blocks that achieve target. (Good subject for another article)

But if Short Term Planning Department focussed on where to drill, then they could follow the Annual Plan pit quantities, as long as broken stocks were maintained within target bands. If it’s not possible to do this, then that indicates one of two primary scenarios. Firstly, Annual Planning is normally carried out a granular level and typically on a monthly time frame, which can disguise the greater variability that occurs when scheduled on a weekly basis (and there is another article in that subject a well). Or secondly, that it was a bad Annual Plan in the first place!

And the most ironic issue from all of this? After 30 years of experience, I would say that the drills are probably one of the easiest pieces of equipment for Mine Planning/Tech Services Departments to schedule and actually have some control over! Drill and Blast Superintendents/Supervisors generally don’t care too much where they are drilling, as long as they are productive because you’re not constantly moving drills around or firing very small shots. So give them a workable plan for their drills and there is a high probability they will follow it. Truck/Shovel Superintendents/Supervisors on the other hand are often more particular about where they will dig and I would suggest at many mine sites, much more difficult for Planning Department to have some control over.

In this instance, the enabler for excavation was drilling, but that is not necessarily the case for all mine sites or activities, for some it could be preparation of the drill bench, or top of coal clean up. So what is the enabling activity you should focus on scheduling at your mine site?