The Mine Planning and Production Management course is designed to equip mining professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop efficient mine plans, optimise production processes, improve resource utilisation, and maximise operational profitability. Participants will learn strategic and tactical mine planning techniques, production scheduling, equipment utilisation, risk management, cost control, and performance monitoring methodologies used in modern mining operations.

The course combines mine planning principles with production management strategies to enable participants to make informed decisions that enhance productivity, safety, sustainability, and profitability across the mine value chain.

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Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and methodologies of mine planning.
• Develop short-term, medium-term, and long-term mine plans.
• Apply geological and geotechnical data in planning processes.
• Design effective production schedules.
• Optimise fleet management and equipment utilisation.
• Analyse mining costs and improve operational efficiency.
• Implement production monitoring and performance measurement systems.
• Manage operational risks affecting production targets.
• Utilise mine planning software and digital technologies.
• Develop integrated mine production management strategies.

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Target Audience

This course is suitable for:

• Mine Managers
• Production Managers
• Mining Engineers
• Mine Planners
• Quarry Managers
• Operations Supervisors
• Geologists
• Metallurgists
• Project Managers
• Technical Services Personnel
• Mining Consultants
• Government Mining Regulators

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Course Methodology

The programme includes:

• Interactive lectures
• Group discussions
• Practical planning exercises
• Production scheduling workshops
• Mining case studies
• Software demonstrations
• Scenario analysis
• Performance evaluation exercises

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Module 1: Introduction to Mine Planning and Production Management

Topics

• Fundamentals of mine planning
• Importance of production management in mining
• Mine life cycle overview
• Strategic versus operational planning
• Mine planning objectives
• Production management principles
• Relationship between planning and profitability
• Challenges facing modern mining operations

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the mine planning process.
• Understand mine production management fundamentals.
• Identify planning constraints and operational challenges.

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Module 2: Geological Modelling and Resource Evaluation

Topics

• Geological data collection
• Orebody modelling techniques
• Resource estimation principles
• Reserve classification standards
• Grade control practices
• Variability management
• Data quality assurance
• Resource reporting frameworks

Practical Exercise

• Geological model interpretation
• Resource estimation case study

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Interpret geological models.
• Apply resource estimation principles.
• Assess reserve quality for mine planning.

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Module 3: Strategic Mine Planning

Topics

• Strategic mine planning concepts
• Mine design considerations
• Pit optimisation techniques
• Underground mine layout planning
• Economic evaluation methods
• Production forecasting
• Mine life scheduling
• Risk-adjusted mine planning

Practical Exercise

• Long-term mine planning workshop
• Mine life optimisation case study

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Develop strategic mine plans.
• Evaluate mine development alternatives.
• Optimise mine life and profitability.

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Module 4: Mine Design and Development Planning

Topics

Open Pit Mine Design

• Pit slope design
• Bench configurations
• Haul road design
• Waste dump planning
• Stockpile management

Underground Mine Design

• Access development
• Decline and shaft planning
• Stope design
• Ground support requirements
• Ventilation considerations

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Develop mine designs consistent with production goals.
• Incorporate safety and operational requirements.

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Module 5: Production Planning and Scheduling

Topics

• Production planning framework
• Short-term planning
• Medium-term planning
• Long-term planning
• Scheduling methodologies
• Resource allocation
• Mining sequence optimisation
• Bottleneck identification

Practical Exercise

• Weekly and monthly scheduling exercise
• Production balancing simulation

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Create integrated production schedules.
• Align resources with production targets.
• Improve schedule reliability.

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Module 6: Equipment Selection and Fleet Management

Topics

• Equipment selection criteria
• Fleet sizing methodologies
• Truck-shovel matching
• Equipment productivity analysis
• Availability and utilisation calculations
• Maintenance planning integration
• Equipment replacement decisions
• Autonomous mining systems

Practical Exercise

• Equipment selection analysis
• Fleet optimisation exercise

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Optimise mining fleet performance.
• Improve equipment utilisation rates.
• Reduce operational inefficiencies.

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Module 7: Production Monitoring and Control

Topics

• Production measurement systems
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Daily production reporting
• Production reconciliation
• Variance analysis
• Performance dashboards
• Real-time monitoring systems
• Digital mine management technologies

Key KPIs

• Tonnes mined
• Equipment utilisation
• Equipment availability
• Cycle times
• Drilling productivity
• Blasting performance
• Cost per tonne
• Ore recovery rates

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Monitor production performance effectively.
• Analyse operational variances.
• Implement corrective actions.

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Module 8: Cost Management and Production Economics

Topics

• Mining cost structures
• Capital expenditure planning
• Operating expenditure management
• Cost estimation techniques
• Budget preparation
• Cost control methodologies
• Productivity improvement strategies
• Economic performance evaluation

Practical Exercise

• Mining cost analysis workshop
• Production cost optimisation case study

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Analyse production costs.
• Develop realistic operating budgets.
• Improve profitability through cost control.

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Module 9: Risk Management in Mine Planning and Production

Topics

• Operational risk identification
• Geotechnical risk management
• Production risk assessment
• Market and commodity risks
• Equipment failure risks
• Environmental risks
• Safety risks
• Business continuity planning

Practical Exercise

• Risk assessment workshop
• Mine production disruption scenario analysis

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments.
• Develop mitigation strategies.
• Improve operational resilience.

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Module 10: Mine Planning Software and Digital Transformation

Topics

Mine Planning Software

• Deswik
• Surpac
• Datamine
• Vulcan
• MineSched
• Whittle

Digital Mining Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence applications
• Digital twin technology
• Fleet management systems
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Predictive analytics
• Automation and robotics
• Smart mining concepts

Practical Exercise

• Software application demonstration
• Digital mine planning case study

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Understand modern planning tools.
• Apply technology-driven decision-making techniques.

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Module 11: Sustainable Mine Production Management

Topics

• Sustainable mining principles
• Environmental management integration
• Resource efficiency optimisation
• Energy management
• Water management strategies
• ESG considerations
• Stakeholder engagement
• Closure planning integration

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Integrate sustainability into production planning.
• Support responsible mining practices.

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Module 12: Integrated Mine Planning Capstone Project

Group Project

Participants will develop an integrated mine planning and production management strategy incorporating:

• Geological model interpretation
• Mine design
• Production scheduling
• Fleet optimisation
• Cost estimation
• Risk management
• Performance monitoring
• Sustainability considerations

Project Deliverables

• Mine Planning Report
• Production Schedule
• Cost Analysis
• Risk Register
• Operational Improvement Plan

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Case Studies

Participants will analyse real-world cases involving:

• Open-pit production optimisation
• Underground mine scheduling
• Equipment productivity improvement
• Production bottleneck analysis
• Cost reduction initiatives
• Digital mine implementation projects
• Sustainable mining operations