Leveraging Digital and Driving Innovation

Future is
Smarter Operations

We continue to be at the forefront of adopting best-in-class technologies to gain and solidify our competitive moat in the mining industry, enhancing efficiencies and productivity along the way.

The value of digital is multiplied when it is applied holistically rather than in individual functions.

DIGITAL COLLABORATION CENTRE

Connected Operations: Analyse, Predict, Optimise

Our Digital Collaboration Centre aims to unlock the potential of data analytics in decision-making, ushering the Company to the digital future. As a pioneer in India, the Centre collates and analyses the entire operating data from our mines, mills, smelters and power plants on a single platform, leading to increased decision-making, backed by predicted outcomes, driven by data analytics.

The Centre promotes collaboration among the operations teams, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and data scientists to create prediction models and automate processes.

Optimising its best-in-class analytics capability, the Centre will develop operational modelling and simulation capability to make accurate predictions of key operational parameters such as recoveries, concentrate grade and throughput, among others. This will be integrated with our advanced process controls, paving the way for automation and remote operations in the near future, to drive higher equipment effectiveness, resource efficiency and production.

DRISHTI

Connected Mines: Real-time, Remote, Safe

‘Drishti’ digitalises our mines to provide greater visibility and intelligence for making informed decisions. With its objective to increase the operational equipment effectiveness by 20% and ore-to-metal index by 2%, Drishti will lead us to achieve global mine productivity benchmarks. So far, we have implemented this programme at Rampura Agucha and Sindesar Khurd mines.

Under Drishti, we are increasingly investing in technology infrastructure, including high-bandwidth underground wireless network, Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced analytics to monitor, control and operate our mines in real time from a central control room.

Key Actions Taken Benefits
Real-time monitoring and control of underground traffic Reduced cycle time, lesser GHG emission and increased safety
Real-time tracking of equipment and people Better safety, timely communication and less downtime
Real-time equipment health data Predictive maintenance
Real-time status of mining processes Facilitate short interval control
Integrating auxiliary services Drive operational efficiencies
Automation of dewatering pumps Optimisation of workforce and better safety
Advanced Process Control (APC) implementation in crusher Generate consistent feed for higher throughput
Tele remote operated solo drill machines Higher utilisation, particularly during smoke hours

NORTH STAR

Connected Workforce: Smart, Quick, Core

North Star is a data mining, visualisation and analytical tool redefining our decision-making process. With North Star, we are unlocking the potential of big data analytics using 10,000+ hours of mining as well as smelting operational performance parameters. Our business managers are getting empowered with the right tools to derive insightful information using real-time data on production, procurement contracts, consumption, inventory and spend along with an array of historical analysis, benchmarking and visualisation options.

An in-house developed platform, it is engaging everyone in our Company with the key question, ‘What information do I need to do my job better’? and guides everyone to take timely, informed decisions. Its intuitive user interface and smart mobility features bring business information at the fingertips of our people, homogenising reporting methods across business verticals to drive tangible results.

SARATHI

Connected Logistics: Robust, Dynamic

‘Sarathi’ digitalises and automates our logistics supply chain to achieve secure transportation and faster turnaround time. It provides real-time tracking of key inputs and intermediate materials, including concentrate, leading to better inventory planning and optimisation of working capital. During the year, we established a digital control tower with best-in-class fleet management architecture for inward, intra-plant and outward logistics movement, which is integrated with existing systems such as integrated transport management system, digital locks and auto samples, among others.

Using cellular technology and intelligent workflow, Sarathi allows effective monitoring of vehicles and drivers along pre-decided geo-fenced routes and flagging exceptions in case of performance deviations. This significantly enhances the reliability of our supply chain. This will be further optimised to dynamically allocate concentrate to smelters based on quality and composition to optimise metal recovery.

We have advanced well on our journey of leveraging digitalisation and are looking to embrace new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and block chain capabilities in the future.