Planning for value in the mining value chain

The objective with mine planning is to consistently deliver production conforming to quality and quantity requirements throughout the life of the mine. The complexity of the operational context of the modern mine extends far beyond the actual production actions and there is a need to find ways of analysing and managing this extended environment. A well-established approach to handling complex situations rely on the creation of representative models that use classification and visualization strategies. An example of the use of a classification scheme is the periodic table of the elements. All physical matter can be expressed as combinations of basic elements. Not only is the periodic table useful in classifying and identifying matter but it can also be used for the prediction of the properties of unknown matter and compositions of elements. An example of visualization techniques are the physical mine models that are often used to determine the design parameters for new orepasses and other physical structures that have to interoperate deep below the surface. This approach is rapidly being augmented, and replaced, by computer generated three-dimensional graphics. The use of value chains, as proposed by Michael Porter1 and widely adopted as both a classification technique and visualization scheme, provides high level functional models for use during the analytical phase. This paper examines the generation of solutions, and the estimation of the value presented by a solution, using the Zachman framework as an aid to generating representative models that are employed to manage the complexity of the solution domain.