The rapid evolution of technological innovation over the last decade has brought new challenges and opportunities to the mining industry. At Newmont, the company says it is responding to this swift change “through targeted investments in people and through systems that are transforming how we operate in the digital era.”
“Our approach to digital integration focuses on advancing responsible mining practices that, as Mike Wundenberg explains, ‘maximise sustainable value.’ In his role as VP, Operational Technology and Innovation (OT&I), Wundenberg leads Newmont’s new OT&I department under Technical Services. With a background managing Newmont’s Full Potential and Asset Management programs, he helped oversee digital assessments across the business last year, identifying and prioritising value opportunities in the technology space. Now he’s focused on bringing similar opportunities to life in our mines.” Wundenberg believes a disciplined organisational structure – supported by underlying systems and change management – is critical to maximising return on technology investments and long-term value creation.
Newmont employees like Wundenberg are key to realising the benefits of digital technology across the mine lifecycle. “OT&I will work closely with our operations to optimise the strengths and capabilities our global teams need to enhance productivity and sustainability, accelerate growth and improve margins.”
Working under his leadership, specialised teams will target strategic digital opportunities across the portfolio. This includes IT/OT integration architecture and infrastructure through connected, streamlined and analysis-rich operations. Mine monitoring and control teams will focus on leveraging wearable technology for safety and operational efficiency, while machine control and automation crews will improve equipment performance, safety and consistency through Artificial Intelligence and other tools.
In the coming months, Wundenberg will work alongside Marcelo Godoy, VP, Resource Evaluation and Mine Planning, to spearhead Smart Mine development work and target applications of digital mining solutions. Newmont’s regional leadership, General Managers of Operations Services and other TS functional teams will support this work, lending their industry-leading expertise to the development of a five- to 10-year enterprise technology and innovation strategy – what Wundenberg calls “a roadmap for the evolution, alignment and integration of digital platforms and systems.”
“This strategy, along with an underlying commitment to improvement, helps us capture the full value of mining in the digital age.”