A systems engineering and management approach to establishing a fleet management system in an underground UG2board and pillar platinum mine in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa is a world-leading Platinum producer. Most of this mining takes place in an underground narrow tabular setting. Mines are heading for challenging times in the coming years because mines are becoming deeper and more expensive to extract. Technology must be implemented to ensure long-term optimal extraction in these underground mines. The literature indicates that surface mines have seen major production increases where fleet management technology has been implemented and that underground mines were trailing in this technology due to the harsh environment. The author, therefore, investigated how data and fleet management technology could be implemented to improve productivity in underground narrow reef board and pillar mines. The research objective was to develop and define a fleet management system using the systems engineering approach to improve productivity at the Two Rivers Platinum mine and to determine all the aspects to be considered. This mixed methods research used the literature, stakeholder interviews, and tests to design and establish the fleet management system. A case study compared the newly developed fleet management system to the current fleet management processes. The results were encouraging, indicating that cost savings and production increases could be realised.