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The exploration, mining and metals processing (xMMP) industry has specific requirements regarding the application of enterprise application software principles.
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Traditionally, MMP industries were supply based, but in recent times MMP has changed and become demand based with booming economies drawing minerals and ore to the market. MMP is experiencing an increased demand for productivity due, in part, to minerals pricing and foreign exchange fluctuations, reflecting consumer demands. This (continuing) trend has focused companies on ‘time to market and price’.
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“Mining” operations are divided into two categories, namely underground and surface/pit operations.
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Underground operations tend to be organised around teams (gangs) or units performing tasks to meet the mine call objectives. Face advance is a key measure to operational progress in meeting mine call. The key events or “drum beats” dictating the pace underground are listed as follows:
- Drilling, blasting, breaking, cleaning and ventilation.
- “Skips” for the transport of ore and waste rock.
- Inventory/Logistics movement tracking.
- Hoists for the transport of men and materials.
- “Mary-Annes” for emergencies and unscheduled trips.
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The minerals processing operation (surface ops) on the other hand has a ‘process oriented’ dynamic, similar to that of chemical and pharmaceuticals companies. The typical bill of material (BOM) production model as used in discrete manufacturing does not support this process modelling, ‘formulations’, and discreet and continuous batches. It also does not deal with the assayed properties of the batches processed.
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Few software packages provide a comprehensive and compelling solution to xMMP industries. Axnosis staff have over the last 10 years accumulated a wealth of knowledge in this domain. This knowledge has successfully been applied using Microsoft technologies – in particular the Dynamics Ax suite of software. Axnosis and its clients work together to enhance and refine this solution.
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Microsoft's Dynamics Ax ERP with Ax SRM, Ax PAM, Ax SIM, Ax LIMS, and Ax SAM provides a production-and-asset-centric application, designed specifically for capital intensive industries such as Mining and Metals Processors. The Dynamics Ax MMP solution map is described below.
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Dynamics Ax MMP components explained:
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Dynamics Ax covers, amongst others, Financials; Fixed Assets; Trade and Logistics; Warehousing; Projects; Business Intelligence; Commitment Accounting; Stores, Purchase and Maintenance Requisitions; and Workflow.
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In addition, Dynamics Ax SAM addresses the business system requirements of MMP from a preventative maintenance point of view. It focuses on setting up an engineering asset register, scheduling job cards, and feedback against these job cards.
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Production accounting for Dynamics Ax provides functionality specific to the management of ROM and minerals processing. This module enables Dynamics Ax to model, ‘plan’, report, and analyse the dependencies in the mining operation crucial to the throughput of the operational units.
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LIMS allows users to enter samples into Ax and follow their progress through the laboratory. A mine can configure analytical parameters and calculations inside Ax LIMS. After sample registration, the module prints barcodes that are scanned at the end of the analysis when loading the results; these are stored and used in other modules.
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Some MMP enterprises prefer to have a best-of-breed mix of applications. Axnosis has also developed a software interface module (SIM) in Dynamics Ax that allows Ax users to control the information that flows into Ax. The SIM module is 100% Ax and supports secure access to external Microsoft based systems, such as Labware LIMS, Wonderware ArchestrA, and CadsMine.
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Finally, interfaced into the above Ax solution is a proven MMP-specific HR/Payroll solution by Symplexity; it is currently used at Murray and Roberts, Goldfields, Northam, and Rio–Tinto, amongst others.
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