{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Focal Mining","home_page_url":"https://markbowater.com","description":"Focal Mining","author":{"name":"Focal Mining"},"items":[{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/25-stochastic-scheduling-has-arrived---finally","html_content":"

On November 1st (2022) I gave the keynote presentation at the Brisbane Deswik Users Conference, the title of that talk was “Deterministic Scheduling – It Is So Last Century”. If you’ve read my book then you’ll know that ...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/25-stochastic-scheduling-has-arrived---finally","title":"25 Stochastic Scheduling Has Arrived - Finally!","summary":"On November 1st (2022) I gave the keynote presentation at the Brisbane Deswik Users Conference, the title of that talk was “Deterministic Scheduling – It Is So Last Century”. If you’ve read my book then you’ll know that ...","date_modified":"2022-12-02T07:33:45Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/24-dealing-with-incompetent-mine-planners","html_content":"

My previous article was the first in a series of articles on Crime #11 – Inadequate Mine Planners. In this article, let's delve further into why we might have inadequate planners. Fundamentally there are three reasons wh...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/24-dealing-with-incompetent-mine-planners","title":"24 Dealing With Incompetent Mine Planners","summary":"My previous article was the first in a series of articles on Crime #11 – Inadequate Mine Planners. In this article, let's delve further into why we might have inadequate planners. Fundamentally there are three reasons wh...","date_modified":"2022-06-12T21:31:09Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/23-that%E2%80%99s-not-how-you-onboard-a-new-starter-crime-11","html_content":"

Following feedback from readers, I’ve realised that I missed a crime that should have made the Top 10 in my book Crimes Against Mine Planning. That crime is having inadequate engineers in mine planning roles, either beca...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/23-that%E2%80%99s-not-how-you-onboard-a-new-starter-crime-11","title":"23 That’s Not How You Onboard A New Starter! (Crime 11)","summary":"Following feedback from readers, I’ve realised that I missed a crime that should have made the Top 10 in my book Crimes Against Mine Planning. That crime is having inadequate engineers in mine planning roles, either beca...","date_modified":"2022-04-13T01:49:35Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/22-stretch-targets-and-sporting-analogy","html_content":"

In identifying and writing about ten mine planning crimes, there were two crimes that stood head and shoulders above the other eight, these were deterministic scheduling and optimistic plan inputs. We can not continue to...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/22-stretch-targets-and-sporting-analogy","title":"22 Stretch targets and Sporting Analogy","summary":"In identifying and writing about ten mine planning crimes, there were two crimes that stood head and shoulders above the other eight, these were deterministic scheduling and optimistic plan inputs. We can not continue to...","date_modified":"2022-04-05T23:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/21-the-continuous-improvement-boat-sailed-without-mine-planning","html_content":"

The planning engineer at your mine site is about to start a new plan. There is variation from site to site and also some differences between short term and long term plans.  But generically, these are some of the steps t...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/21-the-continuous-improvement-boat-sailed-without-mine-planning","title":"21 The Continuous Improvement Boat Sailed Without Mine Planning","summary":"The planning engineer at your mine site is about to start a new plan. There is variation from site to site and also some differences between short term and long term plans.  But generically, these are some of the steps t...","date_modified":"2022-03-29T23:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/20-what-is-the-cost-of-an-unreliable-execution-mine-plan","html_content":"

Let’s start with the question – what is an unreliable mine plan? I think the simplest definition of this is a plan that has a short shelf life.  It has a short life before it becomes redundant because the plan is wrong ...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/20-what-is-the-cost-of-an-unreliable-execution-mine-plan","title":"20 What Is The Cost Of An Unreliable Execution Mine Plan?","summary":" Let’s start with the question – what is an unreliable mine plan? I think the simplest definition of this is a plan that has a short shelf life.  It has a short life before it becomes redundant because the plan is wrong ...","date_modified":"2022-03-27T00:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/19-drill-blast-inventories-%E2%80%93-are-you-missing-one","html_content":"

For the mining industry, inventories play a critical role in allowing us to manage variability in our plans. In that scenario, then there is at least one additional inventory we should be managing – “Available To Drill” ...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/19-drill-blast-inventories-%E2%80%93-are-you-missing-one","title":"19 Drill & Blast Inventories – Are You Missing One?","summary":"For the mining industry, inventories play a critical role in allowing us to manage variability in our plans. In that scenario, then there is at least one additional inventory we should be managing – “Available To Drill” ...","date_modified":"2022-03-23T23:17:11Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/18-so-you-want-to-stochastic-schedule-what-should-you-do","html_content":"

You know mining tasks have a high degree of variability around how long they take and want to build that into your schedules, so what should you do? Well, Liam (a reader of my articles) asked me a couple of questions, t...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/18-so-you-want-to-stochastic-schedule-what-should-you-do","title":"18 So You Want To Stochastic Schedule, What Should You Do?","summary":" You know mining tasks have a high degree of variability around how long they take and want to build that into your schedules, so what should you do? Well, Liam (a reader of my articles) asked me a couple of questions, t...","date_modified":"2022-03-19T23:37:31Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/17-mark-%E2%80%93-why-so-many-articles-on-stochastic-scheduling","html_content":"

I was asked a question by a reader about what to do when you don’t have scheduling software with stochastic functionality. I will answer that question in the next article, but it got me thinking about why I have written ...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/17-mark-%E2%80%93-why-so-many-articles-on-stochastic-scheduling","title":"17 Mark – Why So Many Articles On Stochastic Scheduling?","summary":"I was asked a question by a reader about what to do when you don’t have scheduling software with stochastic functionality. I will answer that question in the next article, but it got me thinking about why I have written ...","date_modified":"2022-02-11T01:22:16Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/16-why-should-you-take-a-different-approach-to-mine-scheduling","html_content":"

Famously, once we humans have learned and conquered something new, we can't go back to what we used to do. A perfect example of this is small children who have learned to crawl, once they learn to walk and run, they can'...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/16-why-should-you-take-a-different-approach-to-mine-scheduling","title":"16 Why Should You Take A Different Approach To Mine Scheduling?","summary":"Famously, once we humans have learned and conquered something new, we can't go back to what we used to do. A perfect example of this is small children who have learned to crawl, once they learn to walk and run, they can'...","date_modified":"2022-02-07T16:15:29Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/15-what-is-slippage","html_content":"

Does P50 in equal P50 out? The answer is, ‘very rarely!’

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/15-what-is-slippage","title":"15 The Proof Behind Why Short Term Mine Schedules Run Late","summary":"Does P50 in equal P50 out? The answer is, ‘very rarely!’","date_modified":"2022-01-27T07:50:32Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/14-does-a-mine-plan-with-p50-inputs-lead-to-p50-outputs","html_content":"

In discussing probabilistic planning with a colleague Martyn Bloss, he told me it had recently dawned on him that a plan with P50 input assumptions, does not result in a plan with P50 outputs. Which was not something tha...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/14-does-a-mine-plan-with-p50-inputs-lead-to-p50-outputs","title":"14 Does a Mine Plan With P50 Inputs Lead To P50 Outputs?","summary":"In discussing probabilistic planning with a colleague Martyn Bloss, he told me it had recently dawned on him that a plan with P50 input assumptions, does not result in a plan with P50 outputs. Which was not something tha...","date_modified":"2021-05-08T02:52:37Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/13-why-is-mine-scheduling-so-different-to-project-scheduling","html_content":"

I have a question and it is for the designers and creators of mine scheduling software. But first, let’s provide some context before that question! 

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/13-why-is-mine-scheduling-so-different-to-project-scheduling","title":"13 Why Is Mine Scheduling So Different To Project Scheduling??","summary":"I have a question and it is for the designers and creators of mine scheduling software. But first, let’s provide some context before that question! ","date_modified":"2021-05-08T02:45:11Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/12-so-who-owns-the-mine-plan","html_content":"

Let me start this article with a fundamental philosophy that can’t be ignored – “you can’t be held accountable for something you don’t control”. I wrote this article for a blog 9 years ago without ever posting it, I foun...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/12-so-who-owns-the-mine-plan","title":"12 So Who Owns The Mine Plan? ","summary":"Let me start this article with a fundamental philosophy that can’t be ignored – “you can’t be held accountable for something you don’t control”. I wrote this article for a blog 9 years ago without ever posting it, I foun...","date_modified":"2021-05-07T22:43:23Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/11-how-do-you-de-risk-your-mine-plan","html_content":"

So how do you de-risk a mine plan? There’s probably an entire book in discussing how you de-risk all of the components of a mine plan, this article will discuss just one component.  The primary risk inherent in a mine pl...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/11-how-do-you-de-risk-your-mine-plan","title":"11 How Do You De-Risk Your Mine Plan?","summary":"So how do you de-risk a mine plan? There’s probably an entire book in discussing how you de-risk all of the components of a mine plan, this article will discuss just one component.  The primary risk inherent in a mine pl...","date_modified":"2021-05-07T17:53:37Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/10-how-do-you-incorporate-variability-into-your-mine-schedule","html_content":"

I can’t be any more blunt than this, if you’re not incorporating variability into your mine scheduling, you’re not producing a good mine schedule – it’s as simple as that! I wouldn’t have written three articles stressing...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/10-how-do-you-incorporate-variability-into-your-mine-schedule","title":"10 How Do You Incorporate Variability Into Your Mine Schedule?!","summary":"I can’t be any more blunt than this, if you’re not incorporating variability into your mine scheduling, you’re not producing a good mine schedule – it’s as simple as that! I wouldn’t have written three articles stressing...","date_modified":"2021-05-07T17:38:37Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/9-the-little-known-effect-on-mine-production-of-variability","html_content":"

This is one of those idiosyncrasies in production that is entirely logical when you sit back and analyse it, but we’re typically too busy in the process of mine design and planning, to have the time to sit back and appre...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/9-the-little-known-effect-on-mine-production-of-variability","title":"9 The Little Known Effect On Mine Production of Variability","summary":"This is one of those idiosyncrasies in production that is entirely logical when you sit back and analyse it, but we’re typically too busy in the process of mine design and planning, to have the time to sit back and appre...","date_modified":"2021-05-07T17:23:06Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/8-variability-%E2%80%93-the-impact-is-worse-than-what-you-think","html_content":"

Have you ever noticed that when a mine schedule is wrong, it's always wrong on the downside?

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/8-variability-%E2%80%93-the-impact-is-worse-than-what-you-think","title":"8 Variability – The Impact Is Worse Than What You Think!!","summary":"Have you ever noticed that when a mine schedule is wrong, it's always wrong on the downside? ","date_modified":"2021-01-14T19:30:26Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/7-mine-scheduling-%E2%80%93-why-it-doesn%E2%80%99t-work","html_content":"

Let’s start by zooming out and looking at the typical mine scheduling process used at most mine sites. We’re given a geological model to use for mining designs, from which we export quantities such as volumes, areas and ...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/7-mine-scheduling-%E2%80%93-why-it-doesn%E2%80%99t-work","title":"7 Mine Scheduling – Why It Doesn’t Work!","summary":"Let’s start by zooming out and looking at the typical mine scheduling process used at most mine sites. We’re given a geological model to use for mining designs, from which we export quantities such as volumes, areas and ...","date_modified":"2021-01-09T05:12:52Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/6-the-four-r%E2%80%99s---what-does-a-good-mine-schedule-look-like","html_content":"

I want to thank everyone who contributed to my question in a LinkedIn post and to provide a summary of what I took away from the 40 responses to my question, combined with my 30 years of experience in the field. Instead...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/6-the-four-r%E2%80%99s---what-does-a-good-mine-schedule-look-like","title":"6 The Four R’s - What Does A Good Mine Schedule Look Like?","summary":" I want to thank everyone who contributed to my question in a LinkedIn post and to provide a summary of what I took away from the 40 responses to my question, combined with my 30 years of experience in the field. Instead...","date_modified":"2021-01-09T05:07:15Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/5-schedule-score-%E2%80%93-how-do-you-know-if-it-is-a-good-schedule","html_content":"

It’s time for another story.

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/5-schedule-score-%E2%80%93-how-do-you-know-if-it-is-a-good-schedule","title":"5 Schedule Score – How Do You Know If It Is A Good Schedule?","summary":" It’s time for another story.","date_modified":"2021-01-09T05:02:37Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/4-inventories-%E2%80%93-what-should-the-target-bands-be","html_content":"

This is my fourth article in a series on mine scheduling and if you haven’t read the earlier articles, I’d recommend you read those first. They are written in collaboration with Paul Ahern from ADBS and his articles make...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/4-inventories-%E2%80%93-what-should-the-target-bands-be","title":"4 Inventories – What Should The Target Bands Be?","summary":"This is my fourth article in a series on mine scheduling and if you haven’t read the earlier articles, I’d recommend you read those first. They are written in collaboration with Paul Ahern from ADBS and his articles make...","date_modified":"2021-01-08T23:12:42Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/3-inventory-management-%E2%80%93-this-is-what-it%E2%80%99s-all-about","html_content":"

This article follows on from two earlier articles on the Broken Stocks Saga, and Schedule Enablers. I would recommend reading those two articles to better understand this one.

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/3-inventory-management-%E2%80%93-this-is-what-it%E2%80%99s-all-about","title":"3. Inventory Management – This Is What It’s All About!","summary":"This article follows on from two earlier articles on the Broken Stocks Saga, and Schedule Enablers. I would recommend reading those two articles to better understand this one.","date_modified":"2021-01-08T23:04:56Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/2-schedule-enablers---what-do-you-have-most-control-over","html_content":"

This article follows on from article 1 The Broken Stocks Saga and I would suggest you read that article first.

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/2-schedule-enablers---what-do-you-have-most-control-over","title":"2. Schedule Enablers - What Do You Have Most Control Over? ","summary":"This article follows on from article 1 The Broken Stocks Saga and I would suggest you read that article first.","date_modified":"2021-01-07T20:37:08Z"},{"id":"https://markbowater.com/f/1-the-broken-stocks-saga","html_content":"

For a period in the 90’s, I was Grade Control Superintendent at an iron ore mine in West Australia. This position leads a team charged with producing weekly stockpiles of lump and fines ore. Between these two stockpiles,...

","url":"https://markbowater.com/f/1-the-broken-stocks-saga","title":"1.\tThe Broken Stocks Saga","summary":"For a period in the 90’s, I was Grade Control Superintendent at an iron ore mine in West Australia. This position leads a team charged with producing weekly stockpiles of lump and fines ore. Between these two stockpiles,...","date_modified":"2021-01-07T11:34:28Z"}]}