Global Mining Guidelines Group

06 Jun Guideline for Implementing Short Interval Control in Underground Mining Operations

Posted at 16:42h in by

Short interval control (SIC) is a structured process for identifying and acting on opportunities to improve effectiveness and efficiency of processes. This guideline provides an overview of SIC and the overall impact it will have on underground mines with different maturity levels.   

This guideline covers the six potential maturity levels of a mine including:  

  • Level 1: Basic 
  • Level 2: Foundational:  
  • Level 3: Integrated 
  • Level 4: Decision-Supported 
  • Level 5: Semi-Automated 
  • Level 6: Highly Automated 

Mines at high maturity levels with advanced data enablement capabilities may be able to analyze and mitigate deviations in near-real-time, while a less sophisticated mine will typically have to provide data and information at the end of the shift.  

By implementing SIC, effective countermeasures can be put in place to reduce the frequency of repeating issues and can help decision-makers predict future outcomes reducing time for unscheduled equipment maintenance and wasted resources.   

This guideline covers key benefits of successfully implementing SIC into a mine including Improvements to overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), more efficient operational processes, enablement of supervisors to support operations from the control room and enhancements to safety and environmental performance by preventing incidents before they occur. 

However, to achieve these benefits, successful implementations should incorporate:  

  • Planning (strategic and tactical) 
  • Situation awareness 
  • Resource management 
  • Operational decision making 

This guideline was developed by the Underground Mining Working Group.

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