Overall Equipment Effectiveness Improvement

Finding and retaining skilled personnel, such as equipment operators, maintenance technicians, and process engineers, is growing more challenging in the mining industry. Consequently, this shortage of skilled workers can impact the ability to operate and maintain equipment effectively leading to premature wear and tear. Many mining companies also have aging equipment that is at, or nearing, the end of its ability to meet performance requirements.

The complexity of operations with interconnected processes and equipment also means that equipment malfunctioning or breaking down can have a domino effect on mining production, profitability and throughput because of increased downtime.

Modernizing or upgrading equipment is a significant investment that many operations cannot bear. Before considering the purchase of newer equipment, it is imperative to maximize those resources already onsite. With the effective use of predictive maintenance technologies, real-time data and monitoring, OEE can be optimized and the life of the equipment significantly extended.

Key Client Challenges:

1. How can we effectively monitor equipment performance and downtime to identify areas for improvement in OEE?
2. What strategies can we implement to reduce unplanned downtime and increase equipment availability?
3. What are the best practices for implementing predictive maintenance to prevent equipment failures and extend equipment lifespan?
4. What technologies, such as IoT and automation, should we consider to enhance OEE in our processing plant?
5. What role does data analytics play in improving OEE, and how can we use data to make informed decisions?
6. Are there specific training and skill development programs that can help our workforce operate and maintain equipment more effectively?

Mining companies are increasingly integrating new technologies such as IoT sensors, automation, and data analytics into existing mining operations for predictive maintenance. For example, predictive analytics is being used to estimate ore quality and composition before processing, allowing adjustments of parameters in real time for optimal equipment utilization.

While this presents an array of opportunities for mining companies, a cultural shift needs to take place alongside adoption of these new technologies – one where employees are encouraged to continuously identify and address inefficiencies. A proactive mindset such as this among the workforce is essential for sustained improvements in OEE.

At Unison Mining, our subject matter experts work together with your team to develop the processes, controls and systems to allow better oversight over equipment management and processes – enabling faster response times to issues for sustainable OEE improvements.