GMC Mine Scheduler

     Frequently Asked Questions

Questions
Q1 What's wrong with just using plain old Excel?
I am already using Excel as a scheduling tool and have done for years. Why would I want to go to GMC Mine Scheduler?
Q2 Do you hold training courses?
Q3 What if we can't get it to work to our satisfaction?
Q4 Will a consultant come to site to install it and teach us how to use it?
Q5 Looking after the little guys.
I'm an independent mining engineer doing contract work for different companies. I might have a problem with $10,000 a year for a (365 day) license.
Q6 Does the GMC Mine Scheduler interface with other software such as Surpac, Datamine, or Vulcan?
Is GMC Mine Scheduler locked into any particular product (General Purpose Mine Planning Package)?
Q7 Block Modeling and Pit Optimisation.
Does GMC Mine Scheduler have its own block model or generate optimum pits?
Q8 How does GMC Mine Scheduler handle the mining of phases?
Q9 Can the GMC Mine Scheduler handle ore blending type problems?
Q10 Constraints in the Processing Plant.
Our treatment plant has some very complex constraints that impact upon our mining schedule. Can this be handled?
Q11 Can it produce a PRACTICAL schedule for our nickel laterite operation?
Q12 How do we work out and define our targets for the schedule?
Q13 Can we estimate equipment requirements for a schedule?
Q14 When would I use GMC Mine Scheduler and when would I use a linear programming solution?
Q15 When would I use a Lerches Grossmann (LG) or Floating Cone (FC) optimisation methods and when would I use GMC Mine Scheduler?
Q16 Can GMC Mine Scheduler be used for underground mines?
   
Answers
Q1 What's wrong with just using plain old Excel?
I am already using Excel as a scheduling tool and have done for years. Why would I want to go to GMC Mine Scheduler?
Answer: If you are using Excel as a mine scheduling tool you will probably recognize the following scenario.
  • It took about a day to get the schedule started, but it took a week to get anything useful out.
  • At the end of the week, although we had something it was abundantly clear a bit more work was needed to make it do what we wanted.
  • At the end of four months, the workbook was some 30 megabytes in size and we were considering splitting it up between two workbooks, using links. It was running slow because of the number of formulas involved. It was very difficult to validate the calculations being done (especially if other people were using it). It couldn't handle grades on dumps or blending problems. It is still evident that we would like it to do a lot more.
If you use GMC Mine Scheduler you will usually set us your project on day one. The size of the workbook will be typically less than 4 megabytes; it will be fast to load, fast to save, and fast to recalculate. It will be quick and easy to train others to use it.

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Q2 Do you hold training courses?
Answer: No.

Hopefully, you will have Excel 2002/2003 and know how to use it.

  • Look at the video demonstration
  • Read the user manual
  • Look at the demonstration data sets
  • Draw a material flow diagram to clarify your thoughts
  • Start work.

If you have any questions, I may be contacted by phone, fax, email, VOIP, etc.

We guarantee emails replied within 24 hours.

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Q3 What if we can't get it to work to our satisfaction?
Answer: Check out our Refund Guarantee / Return Policy. (here)

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Q4 Will a consultant come to site to install it and teach us how to use it?
Answer: No. It takes a minute or two to install (if Excel 2002/2003 is already installed) It does not have any internal language that you have to learn (or be taught) in order to use it.

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Q5 I'm an independent mining engineer doing contract work for different companies. I might have a problem with $10,000 a year for a (365 day) license.
Answer: Study the downloadable user manual and request a copy of the video demonstration on a CD. Study how it works and buy a $1,000 (30 day) license or one of the specials that are offered from time to time. Put the Hasp ® in your briefcase and take it with you when you go on jobs. The Hasp ® clock will not start counting down until the first time you use it.

The normal process would be:

  • Watch the video
  • Read the manual
  • Purchase a low cost license

When the job comes along:

  • Order another license for when this one runs out
  • Collect all the required data in an Excel workbook (see the user manual to check what is required), draw a material flow diagram, and work out a strategy for approaching the schedule.
Install the software, run the program, check out the example data sets, start the wizards, and run the first pass of your schedule. Try to finish this step in one day so you have plenty of time to look at many alternative scenarios for your schedule.

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Q6 Does the GMC Mine Scheduler interface with other software such as Surpac, Datamine, or Vulcan?
Is GMC Mine Scheduler locked into any particular product (General Purpose Mine Planning Package)?
Answer: Yes, by using Excel as a front end, we can import any of the file types that Excel recognizes. CSV and TXT files will be the most commonly used. Of course we will often use "cut and paste" (sometimes via the Office Clipboard). All the General Purpose Mine Planning Packages are suitable; we are not locked into anyone – and NO, you are not locked into anything else except Excel.

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Q7 Does GMC Mine Scheduler have its own block model or generate optimum pits?
Answer: No. The following shows the typical stages of mine planning and where GMC Mine Scheduler Fits in:
  • Drill the ore body, set up drill hole database, interpret geology, and build a block model.
  • Use a Floating Cone, Lerches Grossmann, or Linear Programming based package to identify the optimum pit and the sequence of cutbacks to get there.
  • Design the pits and cutbacks based on the optimum but modified to include ramps and to remove unstable “noses ” in the walls
  • Interrogate the block model to extract the tones and grades on benches in the pits and cutbacks.
  • Use GMC Mine Scheduler to
  • finalize the whole of life plans
  • build a cost model from first principles
  • Provide the basis for long, medium, and short term plans, schedules, budgets
Provide a key component for the implementation of reconciliation's

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Q8 How does GMC Mine Scheduler handle the mining of phases?
Answer: You have been working with other software that uses different terminology.
Please refer to the user manual which may be downloaded from the web site. It has a chapter “What we need to know” and a glossary of terms. There is not enough room to start introducing concepts here.

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Q9 Can the GMC Mine Scheduler handle ore blending type problems?
Answer: Yes. The seventh demonstration data set in the program describes a blending problem for an iron ore mine. This class of problems is typified by large numbers of minerals, large numbers of (material type) categories, large numbers of stockpiles, and often very large data sets.

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Q10 Our treatment plant has some very complex constraints that impact upon our mining schedule. Can this be handled?
Answer: Yes. Normally in such situations we will have several Run of Mine (ROM) stockpiles for different ore types and these ore types need to be blended as they are put in the crusher. As we run our schedule, we adjust our mining rates in different parts of the mine(s) to ensure that, in so far as is possible, none of the ROM (blending) stockpiles are allowed to grow excessively large. If we still have problems with our blending we might then consider adjusting the cut-off grades for our various ore categories.

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Q11 Can it produce a PRACTICAL schedule for our nickel laterite operation?
Answer: Yes. And if you have built costs into your model you can also review the cost implications of all the mining strategies, including the rehabilitation options.

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Q12 How do we work out and define our targets for the schedule?
Answer: Normally, the user will do a few calculations based on Excel cell formulas in the blank area of the worksheet below where GMC Mine Scheduler is active. When not needed any more, hide those rows so they are available for future reference.

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Q13 Can we estimate equipment requirements for a schedule?
Answer: Yes. The Material Flow worksheet gives us all the tonnage flows moving around the mine in each period and these values may form the basis of a user written equipment estimator. In the case of trucks, for example, the user will need haul profiles and cycle times. The details can be found in equipment manuals such as the Caterpillar ® Handbook.
Version 3 of the GMC Mine Scheduler will contain a truck and shovel estimator. It is currently at an advanced stage of development.

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Q14 When would I use GMC Mine Scheduler and when would I use a linear programming solution?
Answer: There is no specific answer to that question as every mine is different. If you are using LP you should carefully consider running GMC Mine Scheduler alongside. Both packages are capable of revealing aspects of the problem and its solution that the other package may not.
Remember that LP packages are expensive and require specialists to run them. They are time consuming and have their limitations. Get plenty of independent advice as to whether it is a suitable approach to your mine before you sign up to some open ended consulting agreement.

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Q15 When would I use a Lerches Grossmann (LG) or Floating Cone (FC) optimisation methods and when would I use GMC Mine Scheduler?
Answer: GMC Mine Scheduler would normally be used after the LG and FC optimizations have been undertaken.

The GMC Mine Scheduler facilitates the building of a cost model (from first principles if necessary).

Since it also handles grades on dumps and techniques for ore blending are straight forward, it can be used to assign costs to the blending stockpiles that may be lying around for a period of time.

The user may be able to assign penalties to those categories that cannot be blended at certain times, and/or assign corresponding value enhancements to those categories that are more desirable at certain times.

These adjustments to ore values can be incorporated in subsequent re-runs of the LG or FC optimizations in order to optimise blending strategies in an iterative manner.

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Q16 Can GMC Mine Scheduler be used for underground mines?
Answer: If there is a need to look carefully at quality control and blending issues there may be some underground operations that need this type of software.

It might also have application in some big mines, where existing software applications are too detailed in their implementation to able to successfully handle strategic planning.

Our feeling is that when equipment estimators for trucks, shovels, loaders, etc have been incorporated in GMC Mine Scheduler for open cut mines, it will also be worthwhile to include estimators for underground machinery as well. GMC Mine Scheduler will then be capable of revealing bottlenecks in the production flow.

An interface to Microsoft project would be useful as well but this is probably possible already to people who have experience in interfacing Excel and Project.

A ventilation network analysis tool would be useful as well but that might be a long way off for the GMC Mine Scheduler

The major factors affecting the viability of underground mines are issues relating to the depth of mining. With increasing depth the following factors all tend to increase in importance with an exponential character:

  • Ventilation requirements, heat and air quality
  • Geotechnical factors and cost of support
  • Grade of ore and ore loss and dilution
  • Cost of development
  • Cost of equipment
  • Productivity issues

If GMC Mine Scheduler were to target underground mine planning it would attempt to address these aspects first, if only on a “broad brush basis”.

Underground mining is often planned in a “by the seat of your pants” manner. The operator is unable to see the ore body clearly at depth because of the cost of drilling from the surface, and because of the cost of putting in hanging wall development to get the drills into an appropriate position for drill testing the ore body at depth. (Having said that, we can note that some mines are amazingly continuous with depth).

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