IM 2017 November 17 | Page 23

BIG DATA AND DIGITALISATION solutions for heavy-asset operators which have long-grappled with minimising maintenance and repair costs, especially during the resources downturn. According to Dingo CEO Paul Higgins, Big Data has become a buzzword across many industries, but it is Thick Data that is producing real-world solutions. “Resources operators are gathering vast amounts of data on their sites but are not always able to apply the analytics in practical, effective ways. Dingo is changing the way data is used. It’s not just that we have the world’s largest database of asset health information for the mining industry – it’s that we combine this data with real-life maintenance scenarios and expertise to help operators make smarter, more cost-effective decisions. It’s adding a layer of context only humans can bring,” he said. Using the power of thick data insights and big data analytics, Dingo’s customers have so far achieved more than $300 million in savings by improving the health and extending the life of more than 125,000 major components. Dingo recently launched a new version of its predictive maintenance software, Trakka ® 4.5, and is now helping more than 180 operations globally capture, curate, store and analyse even more data to inform how and when they repair, maintain and replace their assets. According to Higgins, the mining industry is not taking advantage of the data at its disposal. “Less than 1% of available data in the mining industry is being used. By unlocking the value of this dormant data, the industry could save $100 billion in cumulative maintenance costs by 2025. Mining operations have always understood the importance of collecting data, but being measurable doesn’t make it valuable.” He adds: “By uniquely applying a layer of context, or Thick Data, Dingo is now giving them the power to access it more immediately, understand it, and apply it quickly to real-world situations,” he said. “And this leads to real-world results. We all need to be operating with the mindset that it’s more than just the technology — it’s about keeping the people who use the technology central to the process.” Schneider Electric enhances digital transformation in mining Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced enhancements to its Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution for the mining industry. In-line with its long time strategy to invest in software and service solutions for the Mining, Metals and Minerals industries, Schneider Electric says it is committed to help mining organisations drive digital transformation across their enterprise. “This initiative can help optimise the mining supply chain, drive efficiency and maximise utilisation of all operating assets, resulting in better profitability.” Mining companies are challenged with volatile commodity prices, rising energy costs and increased global competition. “These organisations must shift focus to proactively review internal processes, identify new process improvement opportunities and leverage new technologies to drive operational excellence across the entire mining value chain.” Schneider Electric says it offers mining organisations an opportunity to digitally transform their operations with highly accurate, real-time visibility to information across production, inventory and quality management processes. Miners can now automatically log all inputs and outputs of the plant in real-time, including materials, consumables, energy, waste and emissions output. “This data, when made available to domain- specific decision support tools and integrated with supply chain and enterprise resource planning systems, unlocks new levels of intelligence to drive continuous improvement. Eliminating manually entered production values while breaking down pervasive operational data silos can minimise time, errors and costs associated with manual and duplicate data-entry, further enhancing agility and efficiency.” “Digitalisation is a force that can transform key aspects of mining at every step of the value Delivering the Support You Need The Umbrella of Mine Safety www.dsiunderground.com NOVEMBER 2017 | International Mining 21