Global Winner:

• 12% Reduction in Loading Times
• 19% Increase in Tons per Ready Hour.

As part of Freeport-McMoRan’s focus on continuously improving operations worldwide, the company partnered with Immersive Technologies. Through the partnership, Freeport-McMoRan’s Bagdad Operations targeted an improvement in the amount of material produced per hour by reducing load times. The companies partnered on a business improvement project that used simulations to improve operator performance by honing skills and providing feedback.

This resulted in a 12 percent reduction in loading times. Trained operators were compared against a control group, and it was found the simulator-trained group produced 19 percent more tons per hour.

“In a highly competitive marketplace, continuous improvement of processes and operator performance have become crucial for mining operations. Using Immersive Technologies’ simulators helped us identify and implement processes to make our operations run more efficiently. Our operators have experienced the benefits of simulation-based technologies and contributed to enhancing our Bagdad Operations. Our partnership with Immersive Technologies has created a strong team focused on the success of our people and creating value for our business.”

Finalist:

Codelco - Radomiro Tomic Mine

• 16% Increase in Training Efficiency (over $700,000 USD per year savings).

Codelco Radomiro Tomic is an open-pit mine at 3,000 meters elevation above sea level, located in Calama, northern Chile.

With a fleet of over 90 haul trucks, efficient training was critical to ensure availability of skilled operators and increase workforce availability.

Codelco’s Engineering and Process Control Team used an Immersive Technologies simulator, Pre-Start Inspection and Managed Services support to improve their haul truck training program efficiency.

Simulation and learning technology enabled Codelco to increase training engagement levels and transfer skills 16% faster than traditional methods, with estimated savings of $700,000 USD per year.

Roy Hill Mine – Australian Iron Ore Mine

• 6.7% Increase in Instantaneous Dig Rates.
• 4.1% Increase in Production Dig Rates.

Roy Hill, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is one of the largest iron ore projects in Australia with output of 55 million tonnes of iron ore per annum.

Faced with difficult digging conditions, Roy Hill initiated a continuous improvement project to reduce excavator operator performance variance and improve production outcomes.

Leveraging simulation and Advisor support from Immersive Technologies, Roy Hill succeeded in delivering a 6.7% improvement in instantaneous dig rate and 4.1% improvement in production dig rate averages across three excavator size classes.

Roy Hill is pleased to see our simulators leveraged to improve dig unit performance, aligned to our operating standards.