Time Usage Model for Underground Mining
Published: February 28,2025The mining industry comprises a wide range of users who represent different needs and perspectives related to data usage. Historically, the industry has faced challenges with making performance comparisons and benchmarking externally or even within their own organizations. These difficulties have often been due to inconsistent terminology, data, information, and reporting. For example, the meaning of the term “operating hour” varies throughout the mining community. For the mining industry to achieve digitalization, interoperability, and system integration, it is important for it to establish consistent terminology and data. The ability to share and use information from various platforms requires that there be a common information platform and a common language or taxonomy.
This project will comprise of two models, specific for underground mining:
- Equipment time usage model
- At-face time usage model
EQUIPMENT TIME USAGE MODEL
PURPOSE
The goal of this project is to create a Time Usage Model (TUM) for underground mining equipment (further referenced as Underground Time Model), as well as clear KPIs and definitions to consider.
This project will provide a classification framework for underground mining equipment operational activity that will enable meaningful performance analysis and industry-wide comparison. The project will include recommendations for consistent classification of common underground mining activities, statuses, and events into standard time categories, and will recommend definitions for common industry operational KPIs for reporting mining asset availability and utilization.
OBJECTIVE
The objective is to create an equipment time model that aligns with the existing surface equipment TUM so common terminology and metrics can be used across all mining equipment and operations.
SCOPE
Phase 1 – This phase of the project will be to create a TUM specific to underground mining. This will be based on developing an understanding of all the processes and activities for all underground mining methods across the full mine life cycle. Participant organizations will be asked to share their time models to ensure all activities, equipment and mining methods are addressed.
Once a draft TUM is created, it will be circulated throughout the industry for input and validation.
Phase 2 – This phase of the project will involve comparison of the underground time model to the surface model and then combining the two. Once the combined model is validated, the process of writing and publishing an integrated guideline will take place.
This guideline will be similar in format to the 2020 A Standardized Time Classification Framework for Mobile Equipment in Surface Mining and will describe the time model, time category definitions and standardized mining performance KPIs.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
May 15, 2025 – Project team managing input received and determining next steps
AT-FACE TIME USAGE MODEL
PURPOSE
The goal of this project is to explore a time usage model (TUM) applied to underground mining from the perspective of the mining front (or “face” or “workplace”). This explores the workplace as an “asset” with its own activities, statuses and events, some of which will directly tie to the equipment time usage.
A TUM is a tool that classifies activities, statuses, and events so operations and management personnel can understand, monitor, and manage time usage across the operation, providing a foundation for excellence.
This project will provide a classification framework for underground operational activity related to the workplaces and their mining cycle which may influence performance analysis and industry-wide comparison. The project will include recommendations for consistent classification of common underground mining activities, statuses, and events into standard time categories, and will recommend definitions for common industry operational KPIs for reporting mining workplace cycle performance.
The objective is to create an equipment time model that aligns with the existing equipment TUM so common terminology and metrics can be used across all mining equipment and operations.
OBJECTIVE
The project for TUM for Underground Workplaces is exploratory in nature; and as such consists of just one Phase and Deliverable:
- Phase 1: Create a TUM for Underground Mining Workplaces White Paper, which will have as a sole-purpose to generate interest and understanding if the industry would benefit from further development of an official guideline on this topic.
- Deliverable: A TUM for Underground Mining Workplaces White Paper to be published on the GMG platform.
SCOPE
This phase of the project will be to create a TUM specific to underground mining workplaces. The verbiage will stay similar to those used in the TUM (surface or underground) whenever possible. Participant organizations will be asked to share their feedback to ensure foundational activities are covered; mining methods will be limited to those experiences by the participating organizations.
Once a draft TUM is created, it will be included in a white paper document and published on the GMG platform to garner interest and provide a path forward if there is sufficient interest in pursuing this work further.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
May 15, 2025 – Project team managing input received and determining next steps
Project Steering Committee
Alexandra Voronchikhina – Boliden
Bayanmumkh Tsogvoo – Rio Tinto
Daniel Rowlands – MMG
David Chen – Vale
Emilio Sarno – Ero Copper
Gavin White – Anglo American
Josh Jefferson – BHP
Justin Lustik – Agnico Eagle
Renan Soares – Anglo Gold Ashanti
Rob Heinrich – Imerys
Ron Bose – Glencore XPS
Zoltan Lukacs – Independent
Get Involved
To get involved contact us at: gmgprojects@gmggroup.org