Development and implementation of simulation-based integrated decision support tool for underground potash mining operations of Uralkali, one of the world’s largest potash producers.
Period: May 2014 – November 2014
Industry: Mining
Client / Partner: Uralkali
Project objective
- Optimize underground potash mining operations
- Calculate technologically reasonable production plan for month/ year for each mining machine complex and for the whole mine using simulation model
The main stages of work and characteristics of the system
- Research and formalization of production processes in underground potash mining
- Development of the simulation model
- Development of the simulation-based integrated decision support tool
- Debugging, parametrization and verification of simulation model
- Model users support during scenario analysis
- Integration testing
- Key users’ training
System input data
- Geometric and mining-geological features of mines
- Schedules, technological operations execution order and duration
- Limitations of used machines and mechanisms (speed of the conveyors, shuttle cars capacity, etc.)
The main structural elements of the system
- Module for data import from Oracle EBS
- Module for scenario creation with multiuser mode, user access control, and graphic interface for editing of mine layout editing
- Simulation model with interactive presentation
- Module of simulation-based mining plan creation
System output data
- Operational indicators of the mine (ore production, ore quality)
- Mining machines and conveyor system utilization capacity
- Identification bottlenecks in existing processes
Project result
- Simulation-based software product for graphic input data creation and editing which allows to perform scenario analysis and monthly planning of production
- Integration of reasonable simulation-based production planning into business processes of the company