Case study · Mining & Metals
Silver miner raises daily production drilling 47% after a stalled switch to long-hole
A silver and gold miner's switch from cut-and-fill to long-hole drilling had stalled below benchmarks amid skepticism and a union cap. USC built a management operating system that set drilling records.
Results
47%
increase in production meters drilled a day
38%
increase in long-hole development meters a day
20%
increase in meters per drill each day
Records came in 25 weeks against a 28-week plan.
The situation
After decades of cut-and-fill mining, the company switched one mine to long-hole drilling with outside experts, but early gains faded below benchmarks.
What the assessment found
- Tension between 30-year veterans and the outside experts
- Skeptical foremen and a union cap of 85 meters a shift
- Drills not always serviced and ready at shift start
How the work was done
System: see every shift
Built a management operating system for long-hole drilling, mine services and drifting, with supervisor audits, visual boards and one-on-one coaching for supervisors and area managers.
Incentives: reward longer holes
Introduced bonuses for 105 meters or more per shift and posted the crews earning them, changing the mindset of skeptical drillers.
47%
increase in production meters drilled a day
Readiness: align the stars daily
Made sure six serviced drills were ready each day for five crews, and tightened coordination between maintenance and the long-hole team.
20%
increase in meters per drill each day
“It has been a very positive change for us in the long-hole.”
Lasting impact
The mine set historic drilling numbers and finished in 25 weeks against a 28-week plan. Drilling got so far ahead that development became the new bottleneck.
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