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ABSTRACT Benchmarking is a business management process that seeks improvement through the study and reapplication of practices conducted by industry leaders. This discussion presents objectives and organization of benchmarking applied to mining geomechanics. Similar procedures have been successfully applied to mining companies, laboratories, and research organizations involved in mining geomechanics throughout the world. Benchmarking is a structured process that allows an organization to learn from the ''best'' in the field. The objectives of benchmarking vary depending on the company's targeted areas for improvements. Typical goals include ground control cost reduction, enhanced safety, optimization of geotechnical staffing, development of state-of-the-art design procedures, or the adoption of the "best in the field" geotechnical data management. Once the objective of the study is established and the practices and procedures to be benchmarked are s formed from identified, a benchmarking team 1 internal and outside specialists. Benchmarking in geomechanics is fundamentally different than in most other fields because of the effects of local geologic conditions and regulations, both of which must be understood by all on the benchmarking team, before a comparative analysis can be made. INTRODUCTION Benchmarking is an established procedure used to compare a process within an organization to the same, but the best-in-the-field, process in another organization. Basically, it is learning from the best and applying standards to achieve or surpass the best.
As applied to rock mechanics, benchmarking is a procedure that establishes the existing level of effort and technology a nation, company, or mine applies in the various fields of rock mechanics. Benchmarking looks at how rock (and soil) mechanics techniques and management are undertaken and compares this to either world practice, national practice, accepted engineering practice, and/or recommended practice for a particular mine type in a particular geologic setting. Mining geotechnical benchmarking should be performed by a geotechnical engineer that is an expert in the field of mining rock mechanics heading a team of other geologic and mining professionals. The objective of such a study is to critique geotechnical programs and procedures and to develop recommendations applicable to site-specific conditions to raise the standard of engineering, safety, and productivity. The process conforms to company needs and site conditions, but typical programs and procedures investigated include: Rock mechanics testing, data gathering, information management. Staffing levels and qualifications. Organizational hierarchy. Geotechnical software availability and usage. Qualification of outside contractors and consultants. Design standards, codes of practice, and risk management programs. Interdepartmental(geotechnical, geology, engineering, administration, etc.) communications. Procurement, ~nstallation, and cost control of support systems.
In the past the process was typically completed as part of an overall and more encompassing benchmarking study, but recently it has become common to complete a mining geotechnical benchmarking as a stand-alone exercise.
Information Management Including data collection methods, adequacy of the data being collected, its coverage and density, and how this data is managed after collection. Geotechnical Staffing - Including number of department personnel, their job types, specialists in the staff, level of education, and continuing education and training. Design methods - Including appropriate methodology that considers data availability and stage of mine planning (i.e., preliminary, final). Effectiveness Including operating costs (labor, material, and supplies) and overhead costs compared to results as measured by stability factors and frequency of incidents (roof falls, slope failures, and material volume included in incidents).
The Team
The benchmarking team should be carefully selected and tailored to the client and benchmarking objectives. Benchmarking is often undertaken with an outside organization to provide objectivity. The size of the team depends on the number and complexity of the activities being benchmarked. Outside reviewers may be one to four individuals, while internal client team members may also vary. Typical team makeup is: One to four technical staff are assigned from the outside independent organization with the geotechnical engineer as benchmarking team leader. The outside organization's members of the benchmarking team may include the following senior specialists:
To accomplish these many goals, a set of standard steps are foiiowed with input of the sponsor mining company's geotechnical and management staffs.
The Client
The first step in any benchmarking study is to establish who will use the resultsin benchmarking terms, this individual is referred to as the "client." The client should be queried to determine the client's objectives and how the results will be applied. After these points are established, the client is made aware of what can realistically be accomplished. It is at this point that the extent of client buy-in is established along with commitment of resources.
What to Benchmark
Identifying topics to benchmark depends on project objectives and whether mining geotechnical benchmarking is part of a larger benchmarking process. For example, if this undertaking is part of a larger benchmarking process to improve overall underground mine economics of an entire company, then the rock mechanics portion of the evaluation may concentrate on the geotechnical staff size, effectiveness of present designs, and roof support systems. If, on the other hand, the benchmarking is to improve engineering procedures, the emphases may be on data gathering and management, design procedures, codes of
All members of the outside team will visit the mine operation at least once. One or two of these specialists will return for additional meetings. Generally, four technical staff from the mining wmpany will participate as the wmpany benchmarking team members and may include the following specialists:
benchmarking process commences is imperative. At this initial stage, the outside geotechnical engineer leading the benchmarking team will communicate with the mine's staff and will prepare a data request to characterize the geologic setting.
For a benchmarkingstudy involving multiple mines, the company team specialists may vary from mine to mine. Without buy-in by all involved, rock mechanics benchmarking headed by an outside organization could be perceived as criticism of the company, the company team members, or the company's procedures resulting in an adversarial relationship among benchmarking team members. It is management's responsibility to inform employees and promote the benefits of how it will advance the company and its geotechnical staff.
Regulations, authorizations, permit conditions, etc., have a direct impact on geotechnical design. For instance, many countries dictate a specific pillar equation to be used, the safety factors applied to slopes, the minimum rock thickness between the mine and bottom of a large body of water, minimum bolting requirements, etc. To obtain a clear understanding of these various limits, the company team members should assemble all applicable governmental regulations, codes of practice, approved plans, training manuals. and risk management programs. Analvsis of the Initial Data
Data Collection
Data collection in benchmarking is vital in order to understand the geologic and regulatory settings of the mine, mine geotechnical needs, effectiveness of geotechnical designs, etc. Data is collected before, during, and following the site visits. The type of data collected depends on the project stage. The initial data collected and sent to the benchmarking team well before the first site visit will be general in nature regarding geology, regulations, and geomechanics. The information sent should be sufficient to allow the outside team members to:
1. Study the geologic setting. 2. Study the approval process and the effects of regulations on geotechnical design. 3. Review and understand the general mine geotechnical data and collection methods. 4. Prepare questions for the internal members of the benchmarkingteam.
The forwarded information is reviewed by the outside team members to develop 1) a general understanding of the geologic and regulatory setting, 2) to understand the level of effort required for geotechnical design, and 3) the importance of rock mechanics within the organization. The general mine geotechnical data is compared to other mine data in similar geologic and regulatory environments. This comparison allows for the identification of low performance areas that are then targeted for specific attention during the benchmarking visit. The team is notified of the deficiencies so that additions and clarifications can be developed by the mine staff.
Outside team members should not assume they fully understand the geologic and regulatory settings until after the mine visit. Preparation of open-ended questions helps in understanding the limitations of the outside team's knowledge of the site that will need to be addressed.
The team needs to obtain an understanding of the local geology so that the applied rock mechanics n benchmarked against companies in sim~lar geologic conditions or relative degree of structural complexity. A thorough understanding of the mine's geology and hydmgeology is needed for the geotechnical engineer to understand what rock mechanics principles will need to be applied. Thus, a review of the geology before the
Conclusion
Benchmarking is a widely accepted business tool that has improved business practices, manufacturing processes, and engineering procedures throughout the world. It is an efficient way to make improvements as it measures performance and compares it to processes that others have already proved effective. An individual experienced in mining geotechnical benchmarking understands the impact the local geologic and regulatory settings on mining rock mechanics. He can have an immediate impact on geotechnical procedures and staffing both of which directlv relate to increasina safetv and rehucing cost.