FLEET MANAGEMENT
Caterpillar has launched Fleet 5.0, which features a new Store and Forward capability that manages data handling during communications outages, whether it’ s due to an area of the mine lacking adequate network coverage or a wider network communications outage
Optimal platforms
There are many aspects to fleet management systems and as operations get more complex, they are increasingly about much more than simple truck fleet optimisation, reports Paul Moore
With optimistic industry forecasts making headlines, mines are looking to capitalise on the long-awaited economic upswing. But to recoup losses experienced over the previous decade mines while simultaneously making forward progress, mines must continue to control costs and do more with less. Modular Mining Systems Inc( MMSI) says its DISPATCH ® Fleet Management System( FMS) can help mines accomplish these goals and more.
“ At its core, the DISPATCH FMS is about haulage optimisation. As mining’ s first-ever computer-based dispatching tool, the DISPATCH system revolutionised the way mines worked( and still work) in real-time. Employing a trio of proprietary algorithms and an array of complex mathematical calculations, the DISPATCH FMS automated and optimised truck / shovel assignments to create a faster and more efficient loading and haulage workflow. Nearly 40 years after its debut in 1979, the DISPATCH system has expanded beyond its original focus to help mines reduce costs, save time, and maximise equipment utilisation in other ways. While the ability to move more material in less time is the primary goal for most mining operations, that isn’ t the only road to success. With the DISPATCH FMS, mines gain the tools they need to not only optimise their haulage cycles, but to also address other issues that can hinder operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability.”
The following are just three of the ways Modular says the DISPATCH system goes beyond material movement to help mines solve some of the most common problems. The first relates to time-consuming shift changes.“ Manually assigning operators to equipment units at shift start or needing to find equipment left at unscheduled locations at shift end, can quickly result in many unproductive hours per year. The DISPATCH FMS offers two solutions that can help mines streamline shift change: the Lineup Management and Parkup modules. The Lineup Management module analyses information from the DISPATCH system central database based on specified criteria and automatically assigns qualified personnel to equipment before a shift begins. Lineup assignments can then be quickly and easily communicated to equipment operators using, for example, a scrolling display on a monitor. The module can also be used to manually assign operators to equipment units or override automatic assignments. The Parkup module enables the dispatcher or supervisor to automate the assignment of equipment to a
specified parkup location at shift change, thus reducing the possibility of an operator leaving equipment in an undisclosed location. Assignments are optimised so that trucks are allocated to parkup locations near the assigned end-points when trucks are unable to complete an additional full or empty haul. With this module, the dispatcher or supervisor has an effective and timely decision-making tool for parkup assignments, making it possible to maximise production during the last hour of the shift in progress and the first hour of the subsequent one.”
A Modular customer in Colombia reports that they are now moving an additional 20 loads of material per shift thanks to the implementation of the Lineup Management and Parkup modules. Per the mine’ s calculations, the additional loads equate to approximately 120,000 BCM of additional material moved per month, or nearly 1.4 MBCM over the course of a year.
Another aspect of DISPATCH is monitoring misused equipment. Most mines have established best practices which specify how the units in the fleet should be operated to help ensure driver safety and prolong equipment life. However, unexpected changes in haul road conditions or improper operator behaviour can result in the equipment being treated in a less than ideal manner.“ The DISPATCH FMS’ s FastFeedback and Speed Management modules can help mines head off costly incidents and prevent equipment abuse. The FastFeedback module provides the backbone for immediate, actionable feedback to operators. When used in conjunction with the Speed Management module, operators receive real-time speed notifications on their mobile devices. The FastFeedback module is also utilised to communicate tasks to auxiliary equipment. FastFeedback uses on-board sensors or GPS events to trigger real-time alarms with a configurable message directly to the operator, supervisor, and / or dispatcher. Alarms are logged in the central data-base, facilitating review of best practices and mine procedures.”
The Speed Management module uses GPS technology to accurately measure equipment velocity. When equipment units pass through monitored zones, the equipment’ s current speed is compared with the configured speed limit values for the specific location. Speed violations can be reported in real time to the supervisor and dispatcher in the central office and, when paired with the FastFeedback module, operators receive real-time speed notifications on their incab mobile devices.
With these modules in place, operators can prepare for, or avoid, hazardous road conditions such as debris, spills, or closures, thus
42 International Mining | MAY 2018