Digitalisation enhances customer service

AECI Mining Explosives is exploring a range of technologies to help mines improve their blast planning, initiation and analysis, using a range of digital tools such as digital twin, blast design, smart mobile manufacturing units (MMUs), virtual reality (VR), digital classroom and automated supply chain. 

Digital twin 

A digital twin is a virtual representation that serves as the real-time digital counterpart of a physical object or process. The first practical definition of a digital twin originated from NASA as long ago as 2010. 

At AECI Mining, a digital twin is a digital duplication of a production facility (assets, equipment, structures, whole mining sites etc.). Guided by actual/measured operational conditions or constraints, scenarios are simulated to better understand changes made to the process.   

Blast design

Blast design includes the disparate data generated by multiple capturing software programmes in a single repository. The objective is continuous improvement in business intelligence, field applications and operational transparency.

BlastHub™ is a portal that provides predictive software tools to assist with identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in the design process. The vision is to get a closed Performance and Development Review loop, linking products to performance via the cloud.

Smart MMUs

AECI Mining Explosives’ smart MMU is a standard bulk explosives delivery vehicle capable of wireless data communication, including GPS positioning of blast holes

This MMU technology allows for delivery of explosives in hazardous environments through application of computer controlled and propelled delivery systems. It also offers advanced loading capabilities

VR

Another digital technology gaining prominence is VR, a simulated experience that can be similar to, or completely different from, the real world. In partnership with the University of Pretoria, AECI Mining Explosives established a VR Centre at the Department of Mining Engineering. The Centre provides VR training material through consequence training and instructional design. One of the benefits of VR training is that it can be scaled quickly to improve operational efficiencies.

Digital classroom 

Speaking of training, the digital classroom leverages the power of VR to deliver quality training to front-end employees. An example is IntelliShot^® e-learning and VR training.

Automated supply chain

AECI Mining Explosives’ supply chain focuses on a single web-based exchange portal to facilitate mobile Proof of Delivery solutions, real-time material flow, silo monitoring and transport management to enable the three-way match of purchase orders, delivery notes and invoices. It also includes “track and trace” on a global scale.