MINING
Enterprise Collaboration for Digital Transformation Mining With bulk commodity prices continuing to rise from their lows in 2016, and precious metals continuing to struggle, the mining industry is increasingly turning to technology to cut costs and improve efficiencies.
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olutions and systems that have been triedand-tested in other industries, from defence to aerospace, manufacturing, oil and gas, can deliver comparable results in the mining industry, which has been slow in the uptake of digital transformation. Key to unlocking this approach in the mining industry is Enterprise Collaboration, the foundation of the 3DExperience platform from French software leader Dassault Systèmes, aimed at optimising geoscience, mining and production operations.
Traditionally, only specific parts of the mining process were digitised, whereas digital transformation is an endto-end process With 25 years’ heavy industry experience, Business Consulting Director Andy Mulholland’s broad portfolio is to create innovative solutions to assist customers along their digital transformation journey. Looking at a Greenfield project, Andy explains that the mine geometry already starts to take shape from the construction phase, where the necessary infrastructure is in place and optimised
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Jul/Aug 2020
for production. Traditionally, only specific parts of the mining process were digitised, whereas digital transformation is an end-to-end process. “When you look to optimise or transform just one part of the value chain, it is often done in isolation. This can result in good outcomes if you focus solely on the strategic mine-planning process, for example. However, digital transformation is transferrable across the entire value chain. In addition, we have a broad portfolio to assist, from exploration to prefeasibility all the way through to the logistics of getting the end product to the customer,” Andy elaborates.
Guidance
It runs the gamut from medium term or tactical scheduling to real-time execution, where Enterprise Collaboration forms the basis for the solution of daily operations, according to Senior Portfolio Manager Jessica Jensen. “My main role is to work with our client engagement teams in talking to our mining customers about the solutions we can offer, and how we can add value and solve any challenge. Most customers are eager to undergo digital transformation, but do not know where to begin. We partner with our customers to help guide them on their journey.” Although the mining value chain is generally the same across the industry, there are differences depending on the mining method and commodity, or
