ACARP
Australian Coal Association Research Program
Australian Roadway Development
Improvement Project
Strategy Workshop
April 2007
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
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TOP 10 BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT
1.
Availability of continuous miners
2.
Speed and ease of operation of bolting rigs
3.
Delays in panel and outbye conveyors
4.
Skill level of operators and trades
5.
Planning and coordination
6.
Environmental conditions in the immediate work area
7.
Number &/or availability of on-board bolting rigs
8.
Cutting and loading capacity and fitness for purpose of CMs
9.
Face supervision
10.
Manning levels &/or absenteeism
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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OTHER ISSUES FROM RDTG
 Mine planning
 Software for planning and process simulation
 Panel advances
 Logistics
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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
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WHAT DID WE FORGET?
 ?
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