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Real Results - Increasing operator safety and mine profitability

Cory Cook, Immersive Technologies' Vice
President North America with Lorne Shearing,
and Jerry Hynes, from Syndrude

2011 Business Improvement Award

Syncrude's Mildred Lake and Aurora mining sites received the Immersive Technologies' 2011 Business Improvement Award for outstanding results with its simulator-based operator training program.

Syncrude used its simulator-based operator training program to reduce production loss, improve equipment availability and advance operator safety initiatives. The Canadian oil sands company now has the ability to measure effectiveness of its training curriculum and program. Syncrude was chosen as the 2011 recipient of this award from more than 200 Immersive Technologies' mining customer locations in 30 countries.

For more information, read the full press release.

Cory Cook, Immersive Technologies' Vice
President North America and Brandon Holm,
Kinross Fort Knox Continuous Improvement
Coordinator

2010 Business Improvement Award

Kinross Fort Knox has received Immersive Technologies' 2010 Business Improvement Award for the outstanding results the site has achieved with its simulator-based operator training program.

Chosen from Immersive Technologies' global customer base, Kinross Fort Knox has demonstrated significant advancement in its training program across areas such as measurement, interdepartmental communication, and the adoption of best practice simulation techniques, all of which has served to improve the site's ability to measure the effect of its training on overall profitability.

For more information, read the full press release.

2009 Business Improvement Award

Peabody Energy (Caballo Mine USA) received Immersive Technologies’ 2009 Business Improvement Initiative Award for their ‘Run for Reliability’ training program and its outstanding results using an Advanced Equipment Simulator from Immersive Technologies.

Scott Durgin (Caballo Mine USA)

A sample of real results from Immersive Technologies Customers

Anglo Coal - Callide

“We believe with the simulator we can get the new operators to the 75-90% mark after three months.”
Jim Hill, Project Development Manager, Australia

Rio Tinto - Borax

“A 25% reduction in equipment-damage accidents stemming from the use of a simulator as a training aid has been achieved.”
Mike Bean, Training Manager, United States of America

Cloud Peak Energy - Antelope

“We saw one operator gain as much as 49% at one of the sites – there was an average payload improvement of 18% and that was over about one month of training.”
Sharla Douglas, Senior Trainer, United States of America

Freeport McMoRan - Grasberg

“I would say we’ve had a 20% improvement in truck operating efficiency and we have certainly seen a reduction in metal-to-metal accidents as well.”
George Ray, General Superintendent of Training, Indonesia

Equinox Minerals - Lumwana

“Immersive has certainly been very proactive by providing expertise and commitment to the Lumwana project. They’ve been focused on developing a product that can be used for training and continuous improvement by mining operations in all countries around the world.”
Jon Yelland, Mining Manager, Zambia

Xstrata Lomas Bayas achieve significant results through simulation

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT CASE STUDY

Strategic Project Objectives

Improve safety during haul truck spotting
Reduce reactive maintenance spending
Improve under performing operators

Strategic Project Results

Outcomes in the Immersive Technologies simulator:

42% reduction in incorrect brake use
51% reduction in overall errors

In-pit data - 4 month comparison demonstrated:

39% reduction in service break abuses under 13km/ph
78.5% of haul trucks decreased over-shoots
19% reduction in over-speeds
9% reduction in park break abuses under 5km/ph

Xstrata have successfully completed a simulation-based business improvement program at their South American copper mine, Lomas Bayas, facilitated by Immersive Technologies.

The three-month program included detailed analysis and consultation with multiple departments resulting in the development of primary training objectives, including:

Safety during haul truck spotting; and
Reduced maintenance spend though improved understanding and use of haul truck braking systems.

Management at Lomas Bayas selected the operators to participate in the project, which included a range of Advanced Equipment Simulator based training scenarios and testing.

Significant Results Achieved

At the completion of the project, significant in-pit improvements had been recorded in operational safety and cost minimisation in line with the project’s original objectives.

Additional high levels of knowledge in correct equipment operation were retained by Lomas Bayas operators following the program.

Since the training concluded there have been zero accidents on site compared to previous years.

“After four days of intensive training in the simulator, a new operator was able to drive the wheel loader with over 90% efficiency while loading trucks. He actually has a loading average over the median!”, a Lomas Bayas representative commented at the completion of the project.