How Does Rio Tinto Increase Productivity And How Does It Work?

Over the last few years, there have been numerous improvements to the mining process. New technology makes it possible to increase productivity and reduce downtime in a mine by making the process simpler and faster for the miners. Despite technological advances, the human element still adds a degree of unpredictability to the industry.

Imagine if there was a way to maximize productivity at a mine, both day and night, so ore and minerals can be more easily recovered without forcing employees to work longer shifts or combat fatigue. THat’s precisely what new robotic mining trucks aim to do. Rio Tinto, a leading mining corporation based in Australia, is doing just that.

How Does It Work?

Rio Tinto is currently employing a fleet of 73 robotic mining trucks to pull iron

With paid breaks, spur-of-the-moment bathroom breaks, and unexpected downtime, a single employee can cost over 40 thousand dollars a year in salaries alone. Robotic trucks not only eliminate much of these costs, but also operate 24 hours a day without breaks or required downtime. This means that a truck can work day in and day out without hourly compensation. Sure, the trucks do require fuel and maintenance, but the overall savings and increase in productivity due to the 24-hour work capability makes them cost effective.

Employees are not completely eliminated from the equation. The trucks are robotic and controlled or monitored from a central hub. Each operation is overseen by a team of human experts, capable of interpreting the data and monitoring each truck’s performance. These employees are responsible for overseeing the operations at the mine and ensuring that the trucks work as they should. The human element may not be entirely removed from the equation, but by reducing the number of employees on-site, the mining company saves thousands of dollars a day in operation