In recent years, mining companies have adopted a growing range of digital solutions.

Many have mechanized their operations, moved from the physical to the digital realm by adding equipment sensors, and adopted unified networks to transmit data. Despite this progress, in many ways, these steps are only a beginning and COVID-19 has accelerated this imperative.

As the sector transitions through the current crisis and moves from responding to recovering and ultimately thriving in the “new normal,” mining leaders have an opportunity to avoid falling back into conventional ways of working. Instead, they can chart a new path and embed recent changes sustainably by embracing digital transformation.

Standards can help with this transition.

Challenges to digital transformation in the mining sector

There remain several barriers to the adoption of new technologies within the mining sector.

On the one hand, mines are internally competitive and siloed, so that mines run by the same company compete when it comes to safety, productivity, and other measures. The internal politics and lack of cooperation within mining companies hinder the implementation of new technologies, which require concerted efforts from all departments in order to facilitate integration and systems innovation.

Moreover, mining operators commonly lack trust in cloud services and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions as they generally have a very protective attitude towards their data. This stems not only from an industry-wide distrust of new technologies but also from negative experiences in the past with large, “reliable” companies, who have, for example, experienced hacking scandals.

These barriers are making many mines increasingly less competitive and more costly, as others who take the plunge begin to reap the benefits of digitization.

Benefits to mining organizations of digital transformation

Digital technology—when implemented with management and mindset changes—is leading to meaningful operational improvements.

For instance, advanced analytics and sensors are helping lower maintenance costs and decrease downtime while boosting output and chemical recovery. Robotics and semi-autonomous equipment are taking humans out of mines, reducing costs and risk. 

Labour costs are high for many mining companies, with large wage premiums in the sector due to skills shortages and an aging workforce. Automated technologies allow companies to remove staff from dangerous working conditions. 

Efficiency and productivity gains can be substantial, particularly for those companies operating in remote areas with high fuel costs.

The costs of such technology are falling, sometimes rapidly, giving companies further opportunities to reduce and manage their operating costs in the face of volatile commodity markets. And as these technologies are increasingly proven to be commercially viable, the risks associated with their adoption decrease, and companies themselves face pressures to compete with technology leaders.

Enhanced digitization and remote support of work activities also offer an opportunity to take a more integrated view of assets, business units, and the organization as a whole. For the first time, many organizations have the breadth and depth of visibility into their operations needed to focus on driving system-level thinking and performance. Doing this, however, often requires not only technology but also a change of leadership style and the creation of supporting culture.

Which standards support digital adoption by mining organizations?

Standards play a crucial role in de-risking investment and accelerating the adoption of new technologies through confidence in performance. They are critical in the commercialization of new technologies, building trust, and supporting the creation of new markets at home and internationally.

BS EN ISO/IEC 27001

Since its inception in the early 1990s, global information security standards have grown in rigor and recognition. So too have information security threats and the best ways to manage them. BS EN ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally acclaimed standard for information security management.

It is the baseline standard of the BS EN ISO 27000 series of international information security management standards and the foundation standard for implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). For mining companies moving to adopt more digitized processes, they will also need to protect their information from cybersecurity risks. 

PAS 440:2020

Mining companies have always faced pressure to limit the destruction of their activities. In order to protect their reputation and limit their social and environmental impact, they need to consider not only the benefits of their innovations but also any possible adverse outcomes, including through unintended use, misuse, or other unforeseen consequences; and plan accordingly. Check PAS 440:2020 for details on responsible innovation.

To read about achieving sustainability in mining, click here.

To help mining companies innovate responsibly, PAS 440:2020 provides overarching guidance on how to structure innovative thinking and processes responsibly, irrespective of domain. It provides information for companies that want to innovate responsibly and to demonstrate their responsible behavior. It will help them structure their thinking and guide their actions.

BS EN ISO 56002:2021

An innovation management system will enable organizations to effectively manage their innovation activities. The benefits should be available to the whole business, from successful outcomes, improved communications, effective training, increased confidence, policymaking, and competitiveness.

BS EN ISO 56002:2021 provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating. and improving an innovation management system within an organization. 

BS EN ISO 56003:2021

When it comes to embracing new technologies, collaborations with other companies can deliver a wide range of benefits to enhance competitiveness and performance. Standard BS EN ISO 56003:2021 provides organizations with the tools and methods for forming innovation partnerships with other organizations. Benefits of an innovation partnership include; access to knowledge, skills, technology, and other intellectual assets that are not available within the organization, and access to infrastructure resources to develop or improve services. 

As technology continues to advance rapidly in the mining sector, accessing the standards your business needs to adapt to these innovations does not have to be complicated and time-consuming. Our tailored BSI Knowledge subscription service provides flexibility, access, visibility, and control over the standards and insights your team needs to adopt emerging processes. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM39 Mining & Petroleum Technology module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.

Prepare your mining organization for the digital technologies of tomorrow by adding these standards to your collection today.