In this article, Jaco-Ben Vosloo overviews the major challenges in mine planning decision making. Jaco-Ben demonstrates the use of MineTwin – a tool for simulation and planning of underground and open-pit mines.
Simulation models of discrete manufacturing allow making decisions on operational improvements, forecasting an enterprise operation in accordance with changes in order structure and planning fixed assets investments on a reasonable basis.
Mutual constraints and interdependencies make scheduling in underground mines difficult, making many mathematical optimization methods inefficient. The article discusses an approach to scheduling underground mining operations based on maintaining work-in-progress buffers and iterative adjustment of the plan using a simulation model.
The article demonstrates the use of interaction between a scheduler and simulation model to produce a realistic schedule that accounts for most constraints and interdependencies of copper production process.
