ACARP

1. ACARP Australian Coal Association Research Program Australian Roadway Development Improvement Project Strategy Workshop April 2007

2. BARRIERS TO ROADWAY DEVELOPMENT • Barriers to improved roadway development performance were ranked by participants in the March 2007 Roadway Development Workshops • Participants also identified a number of potential solutions to overcome key barriers • The Roadway Development Task Group reviewed the top 10 barriers and solutions when formulating a roadway development improvement research strategy • The top 10 barriers, solutions and proposed research strategy are outlined over • Comments and suggestions are invited from industry regarding the proposed research strategy ACARP Project C15005

3. TOP 10 BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT • Availability of continuous miners • Speed and ease of operation of bolting rigs • Delays in panel and outbye conveyors • Skill level of operators and trades • Planning and coordination • Environmental conditions in the immediate work area • Number &/or availability of on-board bolting rigs • Cutting and loading capacity and fitness for purpose of CMs • Face supervision • Manning levels &/or absenteeism ACARP Project C15005

4. AVAILABILITY OF CONTINUOUS MINERS Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Proactive maintenance • Fit for purpose equipment • Design of machinery for improved availability • Replace ageing equipment • Research to identify best practices maintenance • Maintenance training • More resources to maintain equipment • Develop a maintenance management strategy to maximise uptime ACARP Project C15005

5. EASE OF OPERATION OF ROOF BOLTERS Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Automated bolters • Self drilling bolts • Single pass bolting • Improved ergonomics • Better maintenance • Higher engineering skill levels ACARP Project C15005

6. DELAYS ON PANEL & OUTBYE CONVEYORS Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Higher standards of installation • Condition monitoring of components • Improved maintenance • Higher standards of housekeeping • Higher standards of belt cleaning • Audit delay causes • Repair and replace substandard belting, structure and equipment ACARP Project C15005

7. SKILL LEVELS OF TRADES & OPERATORS Potential improvements and solutions identified: • More training • Apprentices and mining cadets • Better recruitment and selection • Use of training simulators • Accreditation of skills across industry • Technical college training • Training mine ACARP Project C15005

8. PLANNING AND CO ORDINATION Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Standardise planning systems - Ultimine type systems • Better defined accountabilities and authorities • Training in planning and scheduling • Rigorous understanding of planning throughout mine • Commitment to planning and execution from all shifts • Correct people as Supervisors with correct tools • Establish expectations & monitor performance against plans ACARP Project C15005

9. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS - FACE AREA Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Higher standards of housekeeping • Larger diameter ventilation ducting • Higher standards of roadway maintenance • Improved management of face water • Use of monorails for cables, hose and ducting • Improved ergonomics on face equipment • Networking issues between mines with similar issues ACARP Project C15005

10. NUMBER & AVAILABILITY OF BOLTING RIGS Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Increased number of bolters • Continue to upgrade bolters • Improved ergonomics • Automation/engineering solutions – eg; internal porting to remove hoses • Condition monitoring • Equipment design for serviceability and ease of changeout • CM design for large flat work platform ACARP Project C15005

11. CUTTING & LOADING CAPACITY OF CM Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Fitness for purpose - cut height, rib protection • Application, specification and accountability • Better geological data for equipment specification • Micro-manage engineering capabilities to achieve optimum output • Research into machine design • Tunnel boring machine adapted to coal mining environment ACARP Project C15005

12. FACE SUPERVISION Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Define roles, authority, accountabilities and responsibilities • Personnel development programs, with coaching and mentoring • Targeted training and development • Training in leadership, supervision, motivation, planning and scheduling • Managing poor performance • Recruitment and selection • Develop key personnel to lead rather than supervise ACARP Project C15005

13. MANNING LEVELS / ABSENTEEISM Potential improvements and solutions identified: • Prioritise work tasks and assign labour accordingly • Optimum/maximum number in crews • Pool of skilled trades • Self managed teams • Rotation of tasks • Fatigue policy • Overtime policy • Quality of life – employ the right people ACARP Project C15005

14. OTHER ISSUES FROM RDTG • Mine planning • Software for planning and process simulation • Panel advances • Logistics ACARP Project C15005

15. WORKSHOP DISCUSSION OUTCOMES • Immediate (1 year project) • “project management” systems for roadway development (including maintenance) • “fundamentals of roadway development” handbook • process model for development • management structure, style and skills; • functional specification for “CM 2010” • Medium term (2-4 years) - “CM 2010 project” (similar to LW project) • components can be retrofitted to current generation machines • automated bolting system • alternate skin reinforcement and rib confinement • services • Longer term (+5 years) - “continuous mining system” • integrated system incorporating cutting, loading, conveying, support, and logistics flowing on from CM 2010 project ACARP Project C15005

16. WHAT DID WE FORGET? • ? ACARP Project C15005