Steep falls in coal prices have created an urgency for existing operators to boost their productivity. A recent simulator based training initiative by an underground coal mine in the eastern region of the USA aimed at continuous miner operators led to nearly $1 million in production improvements in just 90 days, Immersive Technologies reports. The training program targeted 16 continuous miner operators from eight different room and pillar mines.

Using an IM360 Advanced Equipment Simulator from Immersive Technologies an experienced operator trainer first observed the operators in the field and then operated the continuous miner to observe the unique conditions present at each of the mines. The trainer then developed a tailored curriculum within simulation, replicating coal tensile strength, rock bands, top height and other significant operational characteristics.

Continuous miner operators were observed within simulation and then received coaching and instruction from the operator trainer. Once operators had met the targeted performance levels within simulation they were released back to the field.

Real world performance data was collected from the sections in which the CM operators worked for a period of 90 days prior to training and 90 days following training to observe the rate of improvement. Real world performance was measured as Feet Per Shift (FPS) with an average improvement of 12% on CM operator productivity. Based off the shifts worked by each operator in the 90 days following training, their increased FPS and the profitability for the surplus production the training investment yielded a return of over $900,000.

“US coal mining is experiencing unprecedented pressures and achievements such as these illustrate the returns possible by investing beyond the regulatory minimum,” says Greg Karadjian, Vice President – Underground Mining Solutions, Immersive Technologies.