Internal Client and Efficiency in the Mining Process

Abstract

A sequence of intentional actions carried out within a fixed period of time by means of a specific set of machinery and equipment and with specific resources (materials, energy, human labour and financial and information resources) creates an industrial process. Sometimes the definition also includes the fact that industrial processes should be repeatable. An industrial process is often mistakenly classified as being synonymous with a production process. Many authors, including mining specialists, perceive the basic process in the mine without much consideration, as being a specific type of production process. The fundamental process in the mine (regardless of the method of mineral extraction) is not a production process owing to the lack of manufacturing processes within it, and the product research and development processes typical of manufacturing companies do not occur here, as the deposit - the natural accumulation of a particular mineral exists prior to the decision-making process regarding the start of the extraction. In the article, the authors analyse the efficiency of the extraction process from the perspective of processes within a mining company and working time efficiency and effectivity of longwall shearers. Presented are the current working diagrams of a longwall shearer and changes in its speed as shown in the E-mine reports, as well as changes in the shearers effectivity (working time with cutting) of the same longwall shearer in the time available (month) in one of one hard coal mines following the implementation of pro-efficiency adjustments. The authors indicate that the adoption of a process approach in hard coal mining has great potential for the improvement of the work efficiency of this equipment.