M.Phil. / In an ever - increasing competitive business world it is essential to optimise the replacement of expensive mining equipment. The decisions regarding the replacement of assets used in a coal mine are usually based on life cycle costing models. Financial methods such as Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return or Payback are applied to determine the feasibility of replacement of the asset. Whereas these methods and other models such as life cycle costing, challenger / defender and the Non-Homogeneous Poisson Process models can be applied in most cases, it is deemed to be insufficient as the sole decision making tool for the replacement of mining equipment. The development of another tool to assist in the decision making process is required for specific use by the engineer to be used in conjunction with the traditional financial models. Key performance indicators are used extensively in the mining industry to manage the performance of equipment and are deemed to be essential components in achieving the organisation's objectives. There are certain limitations when using only the traditional financial life cycle costing methods when viewed from the engineer's perspective, since they do not directly incorporate the level of the maintenance function and the performance effectiveness of the asset. The engineer usually requires more insight into the performance of the asset to assess the feasibility of replacement, hence the need for an additional tool that incorporates these key performance indicators. In most cases there are relationships between the various key performance indicators themselves as well as between them and the operating and maintenance cost of the asset. The key performance indicators used are availability, reliability (mean time to failure), maintainability (mean time to repair) and the operability (tons per direct operating hour). There are certain factors that may lead to the excessive operating and maintenance cost of an asset, especially if there is no investigation into the reasons for the excessive cost. Examples are sub-standard maintenance practices and an insufficient level of service from suppliers. Both are issues that can be resolved with a consequent decrease in the cost of ownership of the asset. Cost as the only indicator of the feasibility of replacement may therefore not be a true reflection of the real status of the performance of the asset. Weighting factors are used to allocate values to the key performance indicators in terms of their contribution towards achieving the organisational objectives. The equipment effectiveness is derived from these values to give an indication of how well the equipment is performing against predetermined benchmarks. This dissertation attempts tb find a solution to the problem through the use of the key performance indicators in addition to the existing models that focus on the financial aspect in order to provide a more accurate assessment of the replacement requirement of an asset in an opencast coal mine.

M.Phil. / In the modern world maintenance organisations are exposed to rapid changes in equipment complexity and the maintenance thereof. Maintenance people have to adopt completely new ways of thinking and managing. If organisations and their management do not adapt to these changes and challenges they are destined to oblivion. Moubray (1991:1) states that: "Managers everywhere are looking for a new approach in maintenance. They want to avoid the false starts and dead ends which always accompany major upheavals. Instead they seek a strategic framework which synthesizes the new developments into a coherent pattern, so that they can evaluate them sensibly and apply those likely to be of most value to them and their companies" One of the viable alternative business strategies and maintenance approaches in dealing with equipment complexity and hence the management thereof, is by means of maintenance outsourcing and contract setting. If done correctly it reduces the risk of organisations and increases flexibility. During outsourcing initiatives organisations will look for benefits such as improvement of its profit margins by means of inventory reductions, improved reliability, maintenance efficiency and expert skills maintaining their assets. Coetzee (1997:24) explain that the task of the maintenance function is "to support the production process with adequate levels of availability, reliability and operability at an acceptable cost". The same principles apply in adherence to the maintenance contracts where the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or contractor also needs to support the customer with the adequate levels of availability, reliability and operability at defined costs. This can only be achieved by quality maintenance; "the right level of maintenance performed at the right time to the right equipment by workmen able and willing to deliver quality workmanship and using correct task specifications" (Coetzee, 2000a). The method used in maintenance outsourcing negotiation and binding agreements between the organisation and the contractor is a Repair and Olivier-2008 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering - UJ Maintenance Contract; commonly known as R+M or MARC contracts. Essentially a Repair and Maintenance contract is the outsourcing of a long term Service Level Agreement (SLA) or maintenance project, normally to the OEM, or its authorised service organisation. "A maintenance and repair contract is a contractual agreement between the OEM (original equipment manufacturer), or contractor, and the equipment owner or user, where the OEM or contractor carries out all maintenance and repair activities at a guaranteed rate per hour" (Lugtigheid, et al. 2007). When organisations adapt outsourcing as a business strategy, it creates a framework of uncertainty and risk to Original Equipment Manufactures and/or maintenance contractors who has to perform the maintenance services. The focus of manufacturing and selling is thus disrupted by the challenge of the unknown playgrounds of competitiveness

The work presented is a master’s thesis at the track Machine Design at KTH Royal Institute ofTechnology. The project was commissioned by Epiroc AB through Svea Teknik AB. Epiroc’s Easer L is a highly versatile and flexible mobile raise boring machine used to drill opening holes and media holes. A drill string handling system is used to construct and deconstruct the drill string during a raise. Currently, the Easer utilizes a lifting arm to move the drill string components between a pipe rack and the derrick. A pipe loader, which is a second arm mounted on the derrick, is used to align the components with the drill string. This work aims to examinethe possibility to replace this system with a more compact and preferably automatable solution. The work had its main focus on a concept generation and evaluation process, where a wide range of possible means of handling the drill string handling system’s sub functions were methodically mapped in function means trees. Several concepts were synthesized using a morphological method and brain storming in a diverging process and their variants were explored and mapped. An iterative screening process utilizing a Pugh Matrix and GATEs converged the ideas until a final concept selection was performed. The resulting conceptual drill string handling system consist of a new crane and gripper solution and a new pipe loader, all modified to lift pipes horizontally instead of vertically. The pipe racks were modified to enable better interaction with the gripper module, even if racks are inclined. A sliding mechanism was integrated in the crane mounting bracket to eliminate the need for remounting the crane, reducing down times. The resulting conceptual drill string handling solves many of the challenges of the existing system and increases the flexibility, automation and productivity of the Easer L. / Detta är ett examensarbete på masterspåret Maskinkonstruktion på Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan. Arbetet utfördes på uppdrag av Epiroc AB genom Svea Teknik AB. Epirocs Easer L är en mångsidig och flexibel mobil stigortsmaskin som används till öppningshål och mediehål. Borrsträngskomponenternas hanteringssystem används för att gradvis montera och demontera borrsträngen under drift. Dagens hanteringssystem inkluderar en kran med en gripanordning som flyttar borrsträngskomponenter mellan deras förvaringsställning och borrtornet. En borrörsladdare, vilken är en ytterligare arm monterad på borrtornet, används för att placera borrsträngskomponenter i linje med borrsträngen. Arbetet syftar till att undersöka möjligheteratt byta ut detta hanteringssystem mot ett mer kompakt och automatiserbart alternativ. Arbetets huvudfokus låg på konceptutveckling, där ett brett utbud av lösningar på hanteringsystemets delfunktioner kartlades metodiskt i funktions­medelträd. Detta följdes av en divergerande process där syntes av en bred mängd koncept utfördes genom morfologisk metod och idéspåning och konceptens variationer kartlades noggrant. En iterativ gallringsprocess kovergerade antalet koncept med hjälp av en Pughmatris och GATEr tills ett konceptval kunde utföras. Slutresultatet är ett konceptuellt hanteringssystem för borrsträngskomponenter beståendes av en kran och gripenhet med tillhörande borrörsladdare, vilka anpassades för att hantera borrsträngskomponenter i horisontellt läge. Detta möjliggör en mer kompakt arbetsvolym. Förvaringsställningarna modifierades för bättre interaktion med gripenheten, även vid ojämn mark. En linjärenhet integrerades i kranens fästpunkt, vilket gör att kranen inte behöver monteras om vilket tidigare orsakade ställtider. Det nya alternativet löser flertalet problem med det nuvarande hanteringssystemet, vilket gör Easer L mer flexibel och automatiserad och ökar därmed produktiviteten.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de discutir conceitos, desafios e perspectivas relacionados à aplicação de tecnologias de automação e informação em minas subterrâneas. Exemplos de aplicação contextualizam técnicas e tecnologias atuais de lavra, suas tendências de evolução para o futuro e a interação com aspectos humanos, operacionais e gerenciais. Dados coletados, referentes a indicadores de produtividade e confiabilidade, são utilizados para um estudo sobre a utilização de um jumbo de perfuração computadorizado nas operações de desenvolvimento e produção de uma mina subterrânea no Brasil. Uma série de desafios devem ser considerados para que sistemas computadorizados embarcados em conjunto com infraestrutura de tecnologia da informação se tornem parte da estratégia operacional. Gestores devem efetivamente adaptar as organizações a novos padrões de segurança, eficiência operacional e gestão integrada da informação. A padronização de interfaces deve ser aceita como premissa básica para a integração de processos. / This study aims to discuss the concepts, challenges and perspectives related to automation and information technologies application in underground mines. Application examples contextualize current mining techniques and technology, future evolution and the interaction with human, operational and management aspects. Productivity and reliability data collected are used to study the utilization of a computerized drilling jumbo for development and production operations in an underground mine in Brazil. A series of challenges must be considered for onboard electronic systems combined with information technology infrastructure become part of the operational strategy. Leaders must effectively manage to adapt organizations to new standards. It is evident the value-added operation with all the benefits related to safety, operational efficiency and integrated information management. Interface standardization must be accepted as a basic premise for process integration.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de discutir conceitos, desafios e perspectivas relacionados à aplicação de tecnologias de automação e informação em minas subterrâneas. Exemplos de aplicação contextualizam técnicas e tecnologias atuais de lavra, suas tendências de evolução para o futuro e a interação com aspectos humanos, operacionais e gerenciais. Dados coletados, referentes a indicadores de produtividade e confiabilidade, são utilizados para um estudo sobre a utilização de um jumbo de perfuração computadorizado nas operações de desenvolvimento e produção de uma mina subterrânea no Brasil. Uma série de desafios devem ser considerados para que sistemas computadorizados embarcados em conjunto com infraestrutura de tecnologia da informação se tornem parte da estratégia operacional. Gestores devem efetivamente adaptar as organizações a novos padrões de segurança, eficiência operacional e gestão integrada da informação. A padronização de interfaces deve ser aceita como premissa básica para a integração de processos. / This study aims to discuss the concepts, challenges and perspectives related to automation and information technologies application in underground mines. Application examples contextualize current mining techniques and technology, future evolution and the interaction with human, operational and management aspects. Productivity and reliability data collected are used to study the utilization of a computerized drilling jumbo for development and production operations in an underground mine in Brazil. A series of challenges must be considered for onboard electronic systems combined with information technology infrastructure become part of the operational strategy. Leaders must effectively manage to adapt organizations to new standards. It is evident the value-added operation with all the benefits related to safety, operational efficiency and integrated information management. Interface standardization must be accepted as a basic premise for process integration.

This thesis is the first detailed and comprehensive research of the history of the 2001 Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (the 'Convention' or 'CTC') and its protocols. It is submitted that the quality of response to the various challenges of the treaty-making process can serve as a measure of a convention's success, and that the unique characteristics of the CTC make it a prime target for such research. The author identifies and analyses the most problematic issues in the process of development of the Convention and its protocols, including the latest draft protocol on mining, agricultural and construction equipment. This research focuses on the documentary history of the CTC and its Aircraft Protocol (as the only protocol currently in force), relying primarily on the materials published by UNIDROIT and other international organisations, and shows that not all of the challenges found an adequate response in the Convention. Nonetheless, the shortcomings pale in comparison with the Convention's achievements: the CTC has created a highly effective machinery for regulating international interests in mobile assets. The author does not perform empirical ex post analysis of implementation of the Cape Town Convention, but this thesis will form a solid background for such research in the future. This study, apart from its scholarly importance, has clear practical value: its conclusions (including a number of treaty-making lessons originating from this research) can assist governmental officials, representatives of international organisations and legal advisors (both external and internal) participating in the treaty-making process and, it is hoped, will strengthen he attractiveness of conventions as an instrument of harmonising commercial law in the future.