Being able to look at scenarios in real time and analyse their impact is essential for companies, particularly in the mining and resources sector. 

Dassault Systemes, a name synonymous with cutting-edge technology in aviation, cars, and now mining and construction, believes that companies really need to consider speeding up their digital transformations. 

Ahead of her appearance at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne, show organisers spoke with WW Geovia (a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes) CEO Michelle Ash, who believes that companies need to embrace technology and innovation solutions in order to remain agile and continue to create value for stakeholders.

“The pandemic meant that a lot of companies were confronted with not having physical access to sites, having to operate with fewer people who had to practice social distancing, having to do more with fewer assets possibly through automation, adapting to ever-disrupted supply chains and balancing health, safety and quality as overriding priorities,” Ash said. “Companies who had implemented technology and had single sources of truth for data were able to continue most operations remotely where others really struggled.”

Dassault Systemes works closely with its clients to provide solutions to increase the level of confidence a company has in their data collection through collaboration between internal and external stakeholders, centralisation of information to create a place that is the single source of truth, and breaking silos whereby connecting stakeholders using real-time dashboards results in meaningful insights and the ability to really know an asset. 

The company uses this data to create a bespoke 4D twin – which, simplified, is an online duplication of an actual operating site.

“Creating the twin enables our clients to really experience their site and run different scenarios in real time and see what the impact of that might be to the business. Some of these scenarios might include where to mine, what the impact of introducing an electric fleet might be or even whether diversifying out of one commodity might be beneficial to the overall business,” Ash said.

She also said that looking for ways to do things more efficiently, naturally leads to more sustainable practices.

“Using electric vehicles in an Underground operation for example, may be cost effective due to fuel prices, but the sustainable spinoff is that it will also play a huge part in decarbonisation,” Ash said. “It’s time to have that conversation about what the cost of doing nothing really is. The risks associated with doing nothing will not mean things stay the same, it will mean that companies not prepared to look at implementing technology into their businesses will be left behind.”

The mining sector needs to continue to foster innovation to remain competitive, but more importantly, ensure agility especially in COVID-challenging times and as the demand for sustainable practices continues. 

IMARC’s focus on technology and innovation will show companies how to reduce costs, increase productivity and improve safety with case studies displaying applications of technology and the impacts on operations.

Ash will join a panel discussion on the “”New Normal’ Expectations for 2022 and How Smarter Mining Strategies Will Assist Industry” alongside Mitsui & Co Director and Vice President Wendy Holdenson, Yancoal Australia CEO David Moult, and MMG Executive General Manager – Corporate Relations Troy Hey.

 

The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is where global mining leaders connect with technology, finance, and the future. Now in its 8th year, it is Australia’s largest mining event, bringing together more than 8,000 decision makers, mining leaders, policy makers, investors, commodity buyers, technical experts, innovators and educators from more than 130 countries for three days of learning, deal-making and unparalleled networking. IMARC is developed in collaboration with its founding partners the Victorian State Government of Australia, Austmine, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Mines and Money.