1 min read
There’s no escaping the fact that the mining and processing industry needs to keep up to date with the latest trends in technology.
The Industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, big data, virtual reality and the role of technology in achieving the Paris Agreement targets and Net Zero are hot topics at industry conferences, in the media and online – and have been increasingly so since the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there needs to be a reality check.
As McCoy and Auret asked in their 2019 paper ‘Machine Learning Applications in Minerals Processing: A Review’, “should the current hype about machine learning be of interest to the minerals processing industry, or is this just another period of unrealistic optimism?”
The reality is that the digital transformation challenge keeps many CEOs up at night.
On top of this, CEO concerns over the risks associated with digital transformation investments have surged.
Front-line staff are not immune to the concerns relating to digital transformation either.
Workforces are often faced with receiving insufficiently scoped and planned deployments.
Alternatively, they’re being tasked to roll out programs that have been insufficiently aligned to requirements or lack the sponsorship, ownership and change leadership necessary for success.
So what are the secrets to making digital transformation work for your operation? And why are billions of dollars of investment missing the mark?
Interested in learning more about digital transformation?
Digital transformation is only half the equation – here’s why mining’s future depends on people
Over the past decade, automation has swept through control rooms, transforming mineral processing plants’ operations. Advanced process control (APC), machine learning algorithms, and digital twins are slowly becoming mainstream tools.
The Human-Automation Balance in Mining
Over the past decade, automation has swept through control rooms, transforming mineral processing plants’ operations. Advanced process control (APC), machine learning algorithms, and digital twins are slowly becoming mainstream tools.
The Mining Automation Pyramid
Digital transformation is reshaping the mining and mineral processing industries, helping operations managers tackle challenges like improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and meeting sustainability goals.
At the heart of this transformation is the Automation Pyramid—a structured model that defines the hierarchy of technology systems, from field-level devices to enterprise-wide decision-making tools. By breaking down the complex layers of automation, the Automation Pyramid provides a roadmap for mining operations to adopt advanced technologies effectively and cohesively.
Download our digital transformation whitepaper
Click on the link below to download our full Digital Transformation whitepaper.
In this whitepaper, you will learn about the challenges facing miners in the post-COVID world and the impact of digital technologies in unlocking new levels of prosperity for both industry and society.