MINING 4.0 HOW DO WE GET THERE?
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— Adopting an open integration platform
Essential to data sharing and systems integration are standards-based, open platform solutions. These bridge the gap between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT). Traditionally, mining facilities have largely relied on purpose-built OT systems to ensure the integrity of processes, however, legacy OT architecture tends to be vendor-centric, monolithic, and inflexible. In a nutshell, incompatible with integration. Organisation-wide visibility and control cannot occur without the convergence of operational, IT and engineering data and this requires expertise on both the domain and system level. For example, the architecture of the ABB Ability™ System 800xA Distribution Control System (DCS) is based on open standard protocols of communications designed to automate engineering and project management through flexible workflows. Likewise, the ABB Ability™ Operations Management System (OMS) is based on ISA-95 standards to facilitate communication and connect mining workforces and equipment in real time. It resolves one of the most common problems mining operations face regarding production scheduling and execution by integrating short interval control and closed loop scheduling into the same digital platform.
Gresshoff mentions the Gold Fields Granny Smith mine as an example of how the Ability™ OMS provides value. “All the data gathered from the various OEM equipment using ISA-95 standards is collated into the ABB Ability™ OMS database,” he explains. “The analytics of the data is then presented to operations and scheduling or planning teams in customisable dashboards and reports that streamline in-situ decision-making. This combination of high-level planning with low-level control allows mine operators to monitor and review mining activities based on targets, metrics and KPIs.” Importantly, Gresshoff notes that these platforms need to evolve as technology evolves, particularly with the development of more AI-based applications. In another Gold Fields mine, ABB is installing its ABB Ability™ Genix digital platform to do exactly that – harness the combined power of industrial analytics and AI with full systems integration. The ABB Ability™ Genix will integrate 25 engineering, OT and IT systems across different function areas of the Gold Fields Salares Norte mine in Chile, including the mine itself, asset management, processing, geology and exploration, finance, legal and human resources.
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