GMSI, a business unit of the AST Group, had been contracted by Gold Fields to develop and implement an integrated resource and reserve information system (IRRIS) that will enable Gold Fields to perform flexible production planning and ore reserve management within the required planning cycles for its Driefontein, Kloof and Free State regions.
The development of an IRRIS for Gold Fields spanned two years and now comprises modules that include geological modelling and estimation, computerised sampling and survey information, 3D digital mine design and scheduling, survey measurement and ore flow. The design and implementation was undertaken by GMSI, the mining delivery arm of the AST Group in association with Gold Fields staff.
The modules of the MRM product suite can function as standalone systems. They are integrated by means of a common infrastructure, which provides a single point of entry, security, maintenance and basic data sharing.
"Within Gold Fields` mining value chain, it was essential to understand the extent and value of the resource and reserve at all times, and to make certain that the life of mine and operational planning optimised the extraction," explains Dolf Prinsloo, MD of GMSI.
"The successful implementation of IRRIS by GMSI will assist Gold Fields in achieving this control, and will provide the enterprise with timely, reliable information regarding the status of the production and ore resource and reserve support activities," adds Prinsloo. "The system will provide reliable information, which implies that the data contributing to the information will be correct and consistent, will comply with business standards, required international resource and reserve reporting protocols and be available to the organisation in the appropriate format, as and when required."
GMSI will also provide full support and maintenance, and will train Gold Fields staff.
GMSI, with AST, can provide a full range of value-adding technical systems and services to the mining industry. All aspects of the mining value chain are addressed, from the strategic to the operational shift level, including sampling, survey and valuation systems. GMSI further adds value through mining and business engineering, technical services outsourcing, systems integration services and technical mining systems, integrating the latter with enterprise resource planning and other services or systems.
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In just four years, the AST Group has established itself as one of the leading ICT companies on the JSE Securities Exchange. Its consistent creation of value for shareholders, clients and employees has resulted in a steady increase in monthly revenue to the R100 million plus mark. AST is now one of the top three IT companies in terms of physical infrastructure (mainframes, servers, desktops, and networks under management), and geographical footprint, with 62 physical locations.
Counting almost 90% of the top 100 JSE-listed companies among its clients, the AST Group has the capability and capacity to provide services to both the largest corporates and small and medium companies.
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