Multidisciplinary Expertise Applied to Underground Coal Mining R and D Projects with Emphasis on Adoption of Lean Automation Techniques

摘要

Mining R&D at the University of Wollongong has concentrated on assisting the Industry by developing new techniques enabling mining engineers to exploit the capabilities of other engineering and science disciplines and by assimilating and modifying technologies successfully used in other Industries. Four examples of current multi-disciplinary research projects are reviewed and details of one of these, involving the concept of 'Lean Automation', which has introduced a major change in thinking in other industries, are given. It is shown how Lean Automation has successfully been used in the automotive and aerospace industries by providing maximum flexibility at minimal capital costs, while maintaining the typical automation benefits of increased productivity, quality, safety and control. Lean Automation may provide a solution to long standing coal mining Roadway Development bottlenecks by adapting lightweight automation to the tasks of automated rock drilling/bolting, mesh installation, and other roof support systems.