WorldWide Drilling Resource

Training Program Improves Production for Room and Pillar Coal Mining Adapted from Information by Immersive Technologies With the price of coal plummeting lately, existing mines are continuously looking for ways to increase productivity. A recent simulator-based training initia- tive by an underground coal mine in the eastern region of the United States aimed at continuous miner operators, led to nearly $1 million in production improvements in just 90 days. The training program targeted 16 continuous miner operators from eight different room and pillar mines. Using an IM360 Advanced Equipment Simulator from Immersive Technologies, an experienced operator trainer first observed the operators in the field and then operated the continuous miner to observe the unique conditions present at each of the mines. The trainer then developed a tailored curriculum within simulation, replicating coal tensile strength, rock bands, top height, and other significant operational characteristics. Continuous miner operators were observed within the simulation and then received coaching and instruction from the trainer. Once operators had met the targeted performance levels within simulation they were released back to the field. Real world performance data was collected from the sections in which the continuous miner operators worked for a period of 90 days prior to training, and 90 days following training, to observe the rate of improvement. Real world performance was meas- ured as feet per shift (FPS) with an average improvement of 12% on continuous miner operator productivity. Based on the shifts worked by each operator in the 90 days following training, their increased FPS and the profitability for the surplus production, the training investment yielded a return of over $900,000. “U.S. coal mining is experiencing unprecedented pressures, and achievements such as these illustrate the returns pos- sible by investing beyond the regulatory minimum,” said Greg Karadjian, vice president - Underground Mining Solutions, Immersive Technologies. 42 NOVEMBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®