Time of coalface maintenance is reduced in Mine ČSM

STONAVA – On Monday, 12 October, the pilot project Continuous Improvement was set in full motion in the Mine ČSM, coalface 320 312, with the objective to reduce maintenance in the morning shift. This coalface is for the time being one of two coalfaces in the Mine ČSM equipped by the technology POP 2010 with the mining complex Bucyrus and is of key importance for fulfilment of the mining schedule of the whole mine. The third POP 2010 will be launched in November.

The first round of maintenance reduction in the morning shift was running in this coalface from this year’s August till September. Thanks to initiative of the Mine ČSM employees themselves, the staff has succeeded to reduce the maintenance time in the morning shift from the original six hours to five. In order to reach a much more explicit improvement, the company OKD has included maintenance in the morning shift into the Continuous Improvement program, launched in cooperation with the consulting companies Roland Berger and CBM, specialists in Continuous Improvement and mine issues.

The project team has analyzed the activities extending the maintenance time in the morning shift most and proposed their re-grouping so that some of them may run simultaneously. During the last week these improvements have already been launched in the Mine ČSM and the first results are positive.

Further reduction of maintenance in the morning shift will enable to use a better equipment. “The OKD management has already decided to release the funds amounting to CZK 3 million for purchase of small mechanisms from the leading European manufacturers,” says Skyva. We are speaking for instance about pneumatic nut runners, saws, drills, hoists, pulley blocks and other devices.

After the pilot project is completed, the procedure will also be transferred to other coalfaces equipped by the technology POP 2010. The specialists will at the same time look for further possibilities how to accelerate the maintenance.

(Josef Lys)