Partnership philosophy unlocks strong shutdown & safety performance
The Customer
As the owner of one of the highest-quality copper assets in the world, our client is consistently recognised for its innovations and the value it creates for shareholders. The underground mine, located in South Australia, employs approximately 1,200 people and has a production rate of ~4.0Mtpa.
The Situation
As part of its commitment to operational excellence, our client wanted to create a sustainable step change and improve its overall shutdown performance.
The business recognised a few key issues had contributed to past overruns, including a lack of shutdown readiness, low levels of team collaboration, and limited access to transparent and timely decision-making information.
To lift its performance, the organisation consciously created a ‘one-team’ project line-up, comprising its own shutdown personnel, an implementation consultant, and IMMS, a digital shutdown solution provider.
The client hoped an integrated partnership, underpinned by expert knowledge and shutdown-specific technology, would help its business refresh its approach to shutdown events.
The Solution
- Separated the complex event into three phases to create a manageable program. Phase one focused on assessing and understanding requirements, phase two set the foundations for execution, and phase three managed the change process in line with best practices.
- Held weekly readiness meetings to enhance collaboration, share feedback, report observations, and prioritise actions leading up to the event.
- Transformed the management of organisational readiness by mapping requirements to shutdown milestones well in advance.
- Implemented SMSi’s end-to-end digital solution in conjunction with its mobile app, SMSi Supervision Plus, to empower office and field workers alike.
- Shared 12-hourly progress updates to keep team members informed, using data collected from in-field mobile devices.
- Improved on-the-ground decision-making through live reports highlighting real-time delays, work group performance, and emergent and cancelled work.
- Provided S curve, finish forecasts, and shift-based productivity reports.
- Trained supervisors to the required standard in less than one hour.
The Results
- Created a repeatable and sustainable shutdown framework and strategy to deliver best practice events.
- Delivered unparalleled levels of timely and meaningful reporting, insights, and data visibility.
- Seamlessly collected and compiled data from more than 60 contractor groups over five days.
- Delivered the project safely on time and within budget.
