APPLICATION OF AUTOMATION IN MINING

Background

The global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) dramatically slowed economic activity as

governments implemented lockdown measures, individuals reacting by reducing both their
mobility and economic activity, and firms’ production processes were disrupted. These
broader shifts in the economy affected both firms’ demand for labour and workers’ ability and
willingness to work (Khamis et al., 2021).

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic also out doored the stimulus of relying less on human
interaction for critical operational processes. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown to multiple
industries the benefits of increasing automation systems where human contagion risks are
reduced in operations (Jaumotte et al., 2023).

(Jaumotte et al., 2023) added that, as the crisis recedes, digitalization, as measured by the
share of workers using a computer connected to the internet, has proved to be a silver lining
across many economies. This has far-reaching and long-lasting implications for productivity
and labour markets.

Notwithstanding, in as much as the mining industry employs the use of more labour,
especially, growing more interest in the use of the local indigenes around the mining
community, technology still stands a good stead in the operation of the mines. However,
labour substitution for automation is increasing in a wide range of modern mining processes.
Such labour replacement is likely to intensify in the coming years due to advances and cost
reductions in technology (Paredes & Fleming-Muñoz, 2021).

Mining is a capital-intensive activity, meaning that labour has historically and increasingly
being substituted by machinery and automated processes. It occurs to be a dynamic process
that must deal with the uncertainties of “outdoor” environments and remains one of the hard
and hazardous work, and the scope for the application of automation is very high .

According to (Rogers et al., 2019), the application of autonomous systems has been steadily
increasing in the mining industry. Automation technology has changed the mining value
chain from exploration to mineral processing and refining. The future state will only see
additional in-roads of automation into more processes and the whole system design.
In the mining, miners have reported difficulties in finding the skilled labour needed to
support their operations. The newest generation of workers is technologically astute, but
holds a different attitude towards physical labour than previous generations. Automation
(robotization) may be what is needed to entice this new generation into mining
(John et al., 2021)

Increasing automation and employment of robots in mining can bring diverse social and
economic impacts on mining communities, regions, and nations
(Paredes & Fleming-Muñoz, 2021)
. These increasingly likely impacts are the focus of attention of this paper.

Research Problem

Worldwide mining operations are 28% less productive today than a decade ago
(Identec, 2019)
. This is dented on the output of labour in the mines. Labor productivity in mining is
often measured by output per mining company employee over a given time period such as a
year, where output typically is the content of the main metal product contained in the ore
(Garcia et al., 2022) . The output of labour in this case is questionable and requires a
substitute to enable the industry meet the goal set for output over a period of time.

However, improving profitability in the mining industry requires working relentlessly

on efficiency, transport and metal extraction to optimize the flow of ore (Ericsson, 2018).

The demand of mineral from the mining industry keeps increasing day in day out and the
effort of labour is unable to measure up the demands of the economy hence the introduction
of automation (Identec, 2019).

Research Questions

i. What is the difference in output between labour and automation?

ii. What is the effect of automation on production?
iii. What impact does automation has on mining?

Research Objectives

The research aims at

i. Assessing the output of labour as compared to automation

ii. Evaluating the effects of automation on production
 iii. Evaluating the impact of automation on mining

Methods to be Used

Research Design

A casual research design will be adopted. This design provides an understanding to a

phenomenon in terms of conditional statements. This research design would be used to
measure what impact a specific change would have on an existing norm and assumption. This
design will assist in understanding the scope of impact of the application of automation in
mining.

Sampling Design

To enable the researcher, measure the errors of estimation and the significance of results
obtained, a probability (random) sampling method would be adopted for the study. This
method would be adopted because the results obtained can be assured in terms of probability.

Data Collection Method

Interviews and questionnaires would be used to gather an in-depth understanding to the

research topic.

The interviews would take a form of verbal interaction with focus groups under the
jurisdictions of the study.

Questionnaires would also be delivered electronically to respondents since most mine

workers are alleged to be literates.

In order to gather some secondary data for this research, hands would be laid on existing data
sets that have already been collected from sources such as other mine companies, articles and
desk studies.

Data Analysis

Data after collection would be analysed using a descriptive statistic to organise and
summarize the data from the sample population. The measure and span of impact of
automation in the mining industry would then be analysed using the regression analyses. The
next step is the application of the inferential statistics to enable us measure the level of
conformation or refute of the results obtained as compared to the objectives and research
questions.
Finally, the Statistical Product and Service Solution version 22 would be used to analysed the
data.

Proposed Contribution to Science/Knowledge

Today, mining remains hard and hazardous work with a wide scope for the application of
robotics. The main drivers are the need for greater productivity, improved health and safety
for mining personnel. The mining industry undertakes the use of several sophisticated
machinery and automations. The outcome of this study would be an illuminating opportunity
for especially, people of the academia to expand their interest in adapting the gradually
adaptative use of automation in the mining industry. In recent times, the demand for minerals
from the mines is on a higher rise and this requires the use of automations to quicken and
hasten the production of the minerals while ensuring precision and safety.

Across multiple functions in the mining industry, business processes span a wide variety of
rule-based and knowledge-based repetitive work which do not add any value to the core
business. By integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine
learning, the potential for efficiency and output is limitless. Machines, free from fatigue and
the need for breaks, work tirelessly around the clock, ensuring a constant and uninterrupted
flow of production. Automated trucks, drills, and even robotic machinery revolutionize the
extraction and transportation of minerals by providing consistent and precise operations.
These cutting-edge technologies not only enhance productivity but also minimize human
error and improve overall safety in the mining industry.

For instance, in the case of the large coal mining industry in Queensland, Australia,
substituting labour for automation estimates from (Paredes & Fleming-Muñoz, 2021) states
that automation could see around 10,000 coal mining jobs being replaced in the near future.

Proposed Chapter Outline

This research would be made up of five chapters after completion. Chapter one entails the
background of the study, statement of the problem, the objectives behind the study, research
questions and the significance of the study.

Chapter two will cover the literature review, providing empirical reviews that answers the
research questions.
Chapter three covers the type of study being conducted, data collection procedures, the
sample selection and data analysis.

Chapter four is made up of the results obtained from the methods used in obtaining data for
the study. This includes result discussions and analysis

Chapter five entails the conclusions from the results obtained and finally recommendations
on areas that need further attention.
 REFERENCES

Ericsson. (2018). A case study on automation in mining 5G business value.

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Identec. (2019, December 27). Productivity in Mining Increased.
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Jaumotte, F., Oikonomou, M., Pizzinelli, C., & Tavares M., M. (2023, March 21). How Pandemic
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