May 26, 2021 | 9-11 am (MDT) | 3-5 pm (UTC) | 6-8 pm (MSK) | 11 pm-1 am+1 (AWST)
Host: Brent Boutilier, Senior Project Manager, Technology Development, Syncrude Research and Development
The official first session of the Surface Mining Equipment Operators Group (SMEOG), which will be held in collaboration with GMG and the CIM Surface Mining Society, is taking place via videoconference on Wednesday, May 26th to discuss key common challenges and priorities around maximizing the value of assets through increased safety, equipment performance and productivity. This interactive forum will feature presentations about:
- Syncrude maintenance best practice: RLE (Run Life Extension Program) – Brent Boutilier, Senior Project Manager, Technology Development at Syncrude Research & Development
- Operational best practices at KMC Mining – Kyle Strate, Sr. Mining Engineer, and Andrea Bauer, Director Asset Management at KMC Mining
- Presentation from Teck Resources
- Risk management is the 4th pillar of sustainability and a brief history of the SMART Large Tire User Group (LTUG) and the Truck Shovel User Group (TSUG) – SMEOG – Gord Winkel, Director, Chair at David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta
Why should you attend?
The group aims to:
- Provide and reestablish a network for operators, front line supervisors and middle management.
- Foster an open and collaborative environment where participants can share best practices, learn from each other and exchange ideas on safety, production, and maintenance effectiveness to bring about continuous improvement in mining.
- Build relationships, share experiences, and mutually develop best practices.
- Grow the SMEOG community which in turn will increase the learning potential for everyone involved.
Who should attend?
Operations and maintenance representatives who own, maintain, and operate heavy mining equipment whose overriding objective is to learn from each other and apply this learning to their respective operations. Vendors, OEMS and others are also welcomed to participate in this interactive session.
A little bit of history:
The Surface Mining Association for Research & Technology (SMART) organization formed in 1995 and provided a platform for discussions and collaboration amongst mine operators. Collaborative learning was a real opportunity and the establishment of the SMART sub-groups – Large Tire User Group (LTUG) and Truck Shovel User Group (TSUG) – gave industry the utility of amassing many operations towards shared learning and practices. A key component of learning for these groups was information sharing in the critical areas of safety, operations, and maintenance. There were many rich discussions wherein mine operators became the beneficiaries of total industry experience and operational best practices.
In 2018, SMART was adjourned and the Surface Mining Equipment Operators Group (SMEOG) that brings the LTUG and TSUG together was established.
About keynote speakers:
Gordon Winkel, P. Eng., MSc., Director, Chair at David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management, University of Alberta
Retired as a Vice-President for Syncrude Canada Ltd., Gord Winkel joined the University of Alberta in 2010 as Chair and Industrial Professor for the Safety and Risk Management Program in the Faculty of Engineering. In this capacity he provides safety and risk management education to final year engineering students and has worked to make this a core competency requirement for all engineering disciplines. In April of 2016, Gord was announced as Director of the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management.
Gord has worked extensively in the oil sands mining industry. He joined the Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil organization as a Vice-President on Loan from Syncrude Canada Ltd. to advance the Kearl Oil Sands Project. Gord was Vice-President, Aurora Bitumen Production at Syncrude Canada Ltd., served as General Manager of Extraction, was Manager of Extraction Operations and formerly Manager of Mine Maintenance/Operations, again with Syncrude.
His work to improve workplace safety led to a Distinguished Lecturer Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) in 2002. His work to advance the Surface Mining Industry through sharing knowledge, technology, best practices and innovation has led to a second Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2008. A third such award was received in 2013 for leadership in advancing safety excellence in the global mining industry. In 2019, Gord was awarded the national CIM Mining Safety Leadership Medal recognizing exceptional contribution by an individual or organization towards improving mining health and safety results within the mining industry in Canada through innovative means.
Gord serves as the Chair of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Northern Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Division. On the healthcare front, Gord is a member of the Alberta Health Services Quality and Safety Advisory Committee reporting to the Alberta Health Services Board. He is also supporting the Alberta Agriculture Industry as an Executive Advisor on the AgSafe Alberta Board. In addition, he Chairs the University of Alberta BioSafety Committee, the Enhanced Biocontainment Standing Committee, and the Engineering Faculty Safety Committee.
Gord supports the Canadian Institute of Mining through chairing the J.T. Ryan Mining Safety Committee and as a Board member for their newly established Safety Society. Provincially Gord is an Executive Advisor for the Alberta Mining Safety Association.
Gord also works to provide support in safety, risk management and organization effectiveness to firms and Boards across Canada.
Andrea Bauer (P.Eng), Director, Assets, KMC Mining
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining and Mineral Engineering) from the University of Alberta. She began her career as Mine Performance Engineer at KMC’s operations in Northern Alberta, progressing to Manager and then Director of Technical Services. In 2018 she added the responsibility of Asset Management to her portfolio. Through her career, she has been instrumental in leading teams in the development of a robust, multi-component and all-season Emissions Reduction Program and Idle Management Systems.
Andrea has experience leading strategic teams for Continuous Improvement, Project Estimating and Asset Management including being Chairperson of the Large Tire Users Group of the Surface Mining and Research Technology (SMART) organization. She is a member of APEGA and past member of Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM).
Andrea is a volunteer with many non-profit organizations. She has served as a board member of ShareLife Foundation, an organization that sponsors initiatives that enhance education, relief of poverty and offers lasting hope to those in marginalized communities. Her community involvement includes time with local food banks, youth programs and child advocacy for Compassion Canada, Compassion International and World Vision.
Andrea has been married to Jon for 17 years and they reside in St. Albert, Alberta with their two children.
Kyle Strate (E.I.T), Sr. Mining Engineer, KMC Mining
Kyle currently provides Technical Services support with a primary focus in bidding and estimating for KMC Mining’s Corporate office. Recently, he worked in the Site Engineering department on various Suncor contract scopes with key efforts in cost management and operational efficiencies. With a B.Sc in Mining Engineering from the U of A, Kyle has experience in GIS services, bidding and estimating, and project management in construction (concrete and bridge works) and mining (coal and oil sands). Kyle has a passion for analyzing operational data to seek-out and develop continuous improvement initiatives.
Brent Boutilier, Senior Project Manager, Technology Development, Syncrude Research and Development
Brent is a Senior Project Manager with R&D’s New Technology Development Team.
He has been with Syncrude for 30 years and has been with the R&D Department for the last 3 years.
Brent spent the majority of his career in Mobile Maintenance & Reliability prior to his Research assignment he led the Mine Mobile Engineering team focusing on GRS implementation and Equipment strategy development.
Brent is currently focusing on next generation mining equipment and technology to improve Mining efficiencies and minimize energy costs.
