News & Media

April 2008

COMPETENT OPERATORS INCREASE CONCOR MINING PRODUCTIVITY

Concor Mining’s training department set itself the goal of increasing the productivity of competent operators by 10% and, through its customised training programmes, achieved this in 2007. It is anticipated that this increase will be maintained or incrementally increased during the current year.

“We were able to achieve this increase through the training interventions without any increase in costs,” Mike Craig, operations training manager at Concor Mining tells Mining Weekly.

“Our goal is to provide outcomes based opencast occupation-directed education training and development against NQF unit standards. This we achieve by using qualified training and development practitioners who strictly adhere to quality management systems to ensure that the highest quality is provided to customers,” Craig says.

“As a training provider accredited by MQA (Mining Qualifications Authority) we have a definite competitive edge,” Craig adds. “In addition, it has enabled us to ensure that operators understand the impact of safety parameters in far broader terms than just learning how to operate the machine.”

Concor Mining is ISO 9001:2000 certified so training programmes are aligned to quality standards. “This also underpins the quality of our training programmes,” Teresa de Wet, skills development manager at Concor Mining, says.

“Most of the companies that manage and operate earthmoving plant acquire training through the other SETAS, namely the civil engineering industry, transport industry etc. When developing our training programmes we decided to use the MQA unit standards as the baseline,” Craig says. “These unit standards are vastly different as MQA emphasises the different scenarios when working in mining a environment.”
 
De Wet adds that this has a definite advantage for customers. “We are training employees in line with these standards, to ensure that the operators are not only competent in terms of machine operation but also have a clear understanding of the safety operating parameters within the specifics of the mining arena. This important aspect of operating machinery in the opencast mining sector is not only about the operation of the machine but also the potential hazards within the mining industry, including rock falls and poor underfoot conditions.”
 
Craig says that the company developed its own training materials and programmes internally as they were unable to align themselves with an external company that could provide them with suitable training material in line with the MQA unit standards. “We also felt that this was an opportunity to educate operators correctly as well as tutor them in the specific requirements of Concor Mining.”
 
“MQA unit standards were taken and used as a baseline from which to develop our own programmes,” de Wet adds. “These unit standards are registered on the national qualifications framework (NQF). Factors such as strategic objectives of company and personal needs of employees were also taken into account when developing the programmes.”

The development of this custom designed suite of training programmes took place over a period of time and several management, site supervisor and foremen interventions took place. “We felt it was essential to involve all stakeholders in this process to ensure that all the needs would be met in terms of production, safety and quality. Not only did this result in close relationships between sites and training department but also in increases in production,” Craig says. “Following this, the training courses were formalised at the beginning of 2007 with the first on-site training taking place.”
 
All training courses include structured work experience (practical) and instructional learning (theory) followed by an assessment that is in line with NQF registered unit standards.

“We believe that developing a learning culture within the organisation is important and we achieve this through training interventions. This means that we create an environment in which employees are keen to get involved and to learn. It therefore makes it easy for them to acquire qualifications and apply them in the work environment,” de Wet says.
 
Concor Mining is accredited in the field of mineral excavation, which includes the removal of top soil, overburden stripping, drilling, blasting, and the removal of ore right up to the final rehabilitation. “The method, while not unique, is different to that used for example in general bulk earthworks,” Craig says. “Therefore it is important that before an operator enters the training programme he is assessed to determine his current level of competency.”

Craig says that this assessment applies to all operators, irrespective of their number of years of service. “We have to determine their current level of competence to ensure the correct training intervention for each individual.” De Wet adds: “This will allow particular skills gaps to be identified and breached with the appropriate training and coaching where necessary.

“Standard operator programmes are in place, and those areas where attention is required are addressed to ensure this shortcoming is rectified. Flexibility remains the keyword and a watchful eye is always kept to ensure that the necessary procedures and standards are adhered to. Training material is reviewed on an ongoing basis.”
 
Concor Mining refuses to merely pay lip service to the need to train females within the mining sector. “The management team took a conscious decision in 2008 and employed several women who met the necessary criteria to undergo training as operators.”

Craig says that where training is performed on-site disruption is kept to an absolute minimum. “We have a ‘Zero Harm’ policy which falls in line with holding group Murray & Roberts’ ‘Stop.Think’ strategy.” The on-the-job practical site training means that the individual is trained within his own working environment on his own specific machine and is therefore more receptive. “Skills gaps are also more readily addressed in his own operating environment.” The operators embark on theoretical training on site, outside operating hours. This training also extends to the foreman level ensuring continuity of knowledge through the different levels.

De Wet says that the company was unable to find a suitable service provider that could provide mock-up sites or the particular theoretical aspects relevant to operation in a mining industry. “Exposure to actual operating conditions is so important.” Both verbal and practical assessments are undertaken on site on an ongoing basis during the training process.
 
“Ultimately our aim is to provide training which is cost effective, minimally disruptive, and strictly relevant and results in an increase in productivity, quality and safety,” Craig says.

Aside from operator training Concor Mining has sponsored male and female students to complete National Diplomas in Mining Engineering and they are at various stages in the diploma course at the University of Johannesburg. Once they have graduated they are then subjected to a three year programme that exposes them to all aspects of our business.

He says that the company has taken feedback from all stakeholders into account. “This is especially relevant when reviewing and evaluating training programmes and we believe in engendering a training culture in all parties. This, in turn, encourages and develops a desire for learning.”

“There are many reasons for us to emphasise and nurture skills development. We have a social responsibility to all stakeholders but in addition, we need to ensure safe working and operating conditions for all, which in turn ensures legal compliance. On the flip side of the coin, correctly performed training improves production through effective quality control and incurs a cost reduction because operators are appropriately trained, thus benefiting all concerned parties,” de Wet explains.
 
“Management at Concor Mining is passionate about the advantages of having a highly skilled and competent mining team and we have invested time and money in the training department. We have the necessary human capital and development of this resource is critical both from an industry and company strategy perspective,” Craig concludes.