ABSTRACT
The trends toward mechanization, increasing level of automation, and larger equipment have resulted in an increased reliance on the equipment used in the mines. As the equipment is getting more productive, but at the same time more complex and capitalintensive, deficient reliability and maintenance as well as inefficient operation often prevent utilization of its full capacity. As equipment-related costs constitute a high percentage of a total production cost (with maintenance alone accounting for 30% and more; Campbell 1995, Knigths 1999), it is extremely important that it is highly efficient and provides as much useful work as possible (Wiebmer and Widdifield 1997). This can be achieved, among the others, through the optimized asset management. In other
industries such as for example manufacturing, the performance and utilization of equipment are usually closely monitored down to the lowest level of detail. Modern plants are controlled and optimized using programmable intelligent devices that enable displaying real time performance to operators and prompt them to make informed decisions to maximize production. Through continuous monitoring of equipment performance in real time, it becomes possible to quantify decision making, react quickly to unpredictable changes in circumstances, effectively manage and optimize the steps in the production cycle. Even though the mining industry is lagging behind manufacturing sector in this respect, a lot of R&D work has been done on this aspect in the last several years. With regard to open-pit operations a significant progress has been achieved in loading and haulage equipment matching as well as truck dispatching. Following the implementation of a Global Positioning System (GPS), mine management systems have become far more effective in maximizing the effectiveness of loading and haulage equipment fleets. Underground mining environment however, is by far more restrictive in what concerns an application of several technologies and more demanding in the sense of working conditions and constraints. Therefore, a direct technology transfer of open-pit mine management systems to underground workings represents a serious challenge. It seems however, that this changes gradually. The American company Modular Mining Systems International (further in the text referred to as “MMSI”) that has developed a well-known IntelliMine® mine management system for open-pit mines has made considerable progress in adapting it to underground mine environment.
