New approach to the design of mining operations

Analysis of the production development scenarios is proposed for strategic activity planning; criteria to make decisions under the uncertainty conditions as well as decision-making trees for day-to-day management are proposed to determine balanced production level

Innovative solutions of the underground exploitation of coal deposits

The article offers the development of a tool to estimate the state of operation schedules of coal mines relying upon the analysis of actual state of an operation schedule taking into consideration hierarchic connections between the system components. Comprehensive research method has been applied. The method involves statistical analysis to determine the dependence between performance of potential index and a number of independent indices concerning production and commercial operations of a mine, and Solow-Swan model method to estimate level of potential and coal mine reception of innovations. Methods of discrete mathematics have been used in the context of network models to optimize operational parameters and to normalize a structure of manufacturing relations. Regularities, concerning formation of production and commercial operations of mines, have been determined. The regularities involve concentration level of mining, labour productivity, stope advance, and prime cost of end product. Mathematical models, describing “performance potential” index, have been developed. The index is based upon the analysis of dependences between it and mining and geological as well as technological parameters of a mine. It has been proved that simulation of optimum parameter values of operation schedule means complete implementation of economic potential of the mine, i.e. ultimately achievable (reference) level since the level correspondence makes operation schedule of a mine receptive to innovations. A model has been proposed to analyze the efficiency of operation schedules of coal mines as for the estimation of a level of potential and coal mine reception of innovations. Further representation of a structure of manufacturing relations in the form of a network model helps reduce prime cost of mining and to increase labour productivity. The approach can be applied in the process of operative and long-term planning activities by coal industry enterprises as well as enterprises belonging to the related industries, and to determined ultimately achievable rate of economic surplus value. Corresponding software has been developed to implement the methods