RungePincockMinarco has today delivered another significant advancement in scheduling technology with the latest release of Open Pit Metals XPAC Solution.

Commenting on the improved functionality of the new release, Mr. Alun Phillips, RPM’s Product Manager – Scheduling, said “This release is really exciting for two key reasons, firstly we have added interactive scheduling capability - which allows users to get right down to the intricacies of the extraction schedule. Secondly, we have now given users complete flexibility to schedule with blocks of any shape and size to suit their planning timeframe”. Mr. Phillips explains that interactive scheduling allows mine planners to pick and choose which materials and equipment to manually schedule, and which to leave to the automatic scheduling functions of OPMS.

“Having the ability to select any subsection of the plan to work on in more detail allows users to create a very precise schedule. Mine planners can choose to work in detail for critical tasks but leave the more tedious tasks to the automated features of OPMS including the Autoscheduler, Advanced Destination Scheduler and Product Optimiser”.

“OPMS allows for a seamless transition between interactive and automatic scheduling so the planner has complete control”. Another key enhancement to OPMS is the ability to schedule with blocks of any shape and size, to suit the scheduling timeframe. Whilst large regular blocks are fast and efficient for long term scheduling purposes, irregular block shapes are more common for budget and shorter term schedules which require more flexibility and precision. OPMS now supports any combination of these. “The way we create our mining blocks now provides the best of both worlds, quick when it needs to be and more detailed at the pointy end”. “These new features are the result of extensive consultation with our clients since the initial release of OPMS.  Coupled with the recent developments of RPM’s Operational Mining Integration platform, OPMS is the clear choice for enterprise wide mine planning”.

The OMI platform manages the direct connection of RPM’s scheduling and financial modelling software products and allows for integration of these products to ERP systems, such as SAP. “Our OMI platform has brought together our scheduling and financial products so that they can share data quickly and seamlessly, giving more control and auditability over the whole mining process. The feedback we have received so far indicates that this is really meeting the needs of the industry” concluded Mr Phillips.