In regions like Africa, these changes are crucial to combat high operational costs and ensure sustainability. Although emerging technologies offer solutions, slow adoption underscores the urgent need for industry-wide change.
The mining industry is on the brink of a profound digital transformation driven by technology. Its goal is to improve operations for enhanced safety, productivity, and value.
In the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, global mining firms face a pivotal moment to embrace innovative technologies for cost-efficiency and competitiveness.
These challenges, which often result in high operational costs, have had a negative impact on the mines’ profitability and financial sustainability in recent years. Amidst this era of disruption, emerging technologies offer enormous potential in solving some of the business challenges that the African mining sector faces. Despite the enormous potential that digital technologies offer, the rate of adoption across the mining sector has been slow.
Our Thinking
Insights:
The Case for Open Innovation in Mining
- Open innovation (OI) offers hope for rapid transformation in the mining industry. By embracing OI, mining companies can tap into external innovative ideas, saving time and costs while fostering a culture of innovation. They should challenge the corporate innovation barriers, such as procurement and culture. OI can drive value and sustainable innovation, attracting more research and development investments. Our POV highlights OI's opportunities, Exxaro Resources' journey, and provides implementation guidance for mining leaders.
Beyond Tech trends:
Embedding Innovation in Mining Organisations
- Mining's digital transformation incorporates tech like plant control systems, GPS, mobile broadband, and automated haulage. Key innovations include Masterplan Automation, AI-driven Mine Plant of the Future, immersive learning via VR/AR, AI-powered drone inspections, digital employee connections, 3D-printed stakeholder engagement, and digital permits and work orders for operational improvements.
Beyond Tech trends:
Embedding Innovation in Mining Organisations
- Mining's digital transformation incorporates tech like plant control systems, GPS, mobile broadband, and automated haulage. Key innovations include Masterplan Automation, AI-driven Mine Plant of the Future, immersive learning via VR/AR, AI-powered drone inspections, digital employee connections, 3D-printed stakeholder engagement, and digital permits and work orders for operational improvements.
Operator Driven Mining Productivity: Understanding the imperative of a human-centric approach for better performance, safety and sustainability
The mining industry is shifting towards automation, but human factors still play a crucial role in productivity. Fatigue, caused by work-related and non-work-related factors, significantly impacts performance. Optimising work environments, training programs, and operator well-being are essential for building resilient and productive teams in this evolving landscape.
Our Experience
Digital Transformation Design Sprint United Manganese Kalahari
- Digital transformation in mining incorporates new technologies like plant control systems, GPS, mobile broadband, and automated haulage. Understanding their capabilities and applying them to address business challenges, from pit to port, is crucial. COOi Studios conducted a week-long design sprint at UMK, focusing on mining tech trends, education and experiences. They engaged in design thinking sessions with managers to identify business problems, enabling the development of onsite prototypes and betas aligned with the innovation strategy.
Digital Transformation Engen Oil
- Digital innovation drives operational excellence and competitive strategies across industries. COOi Studios used design thinking to craft a digital strategy for Engen Oil Lubricants. They considered the broader digital transformation program while identifying opportunities for the Lubricants business. Research uncovered pain points in the value chain, resulting in innovative solutions aligned with the organizational digital strategy.
Global mine improving the life of an operator
A global mining company is looking to improve its operator experience through various human factors; fatigue reduction, ergonomic design and operations within the mine.
- COOi performed a user study of these operators where they carried out the following activities:
- Immersive research; stakeholder mapping, behavioural mapping of the operator, directed storytelling
- Through the immersive research we were able to develop a day in the life perspective of the user
- Form high level concepts of changes that can be implemented to improve the life of an operator