THE storage and inventory management of explosives is a significant responsibility for mining companies.
Ultimately, the company and its senior management are accountable for the responsible use and inventory control of all explosives.
However, conventional explosives inventory control processes are often lacking in terms of accuracy, auditability and timelines.
The problem primarily arises from the timeliness and inaccuracies introduced through manual and paper-based reporting of explosives movements in and out of the company’s magazine.
Typically, these paper-based systems require operators to populate complex and often dishevelled tabulated stock sheets with the inventory movements in and out of the magazine.
Operators are often inattentive and not inclined to accurately complete paper based stock sheets due to their complexity.
By the time the mining engineer completes a magazine stocktake, transfers the paper-based stock reports into a spreadsheet and identifies any discrepancies in the explosives inventory, it can be days or even weeks later.
Any delays in identifying discrepancies in explosives inventory make investigating and identifying the source of the error exceptionally difficult, particularly if the discrepancy is a result of operator inattentiveness and complacency associated with completing stock report sheets.
Any unaccounted-for explosives by law need to be reported to the regulatory authorities, which can result in prosecution of the company and the statutory mine manager.
In 2009, the WA Police undertook a massive operation in search of drugs and explosives, searching the luggage of 2300 passengers which had arrived into the Perth and regional airports from mine sites.
A spokeswoman said a significant quantity of explosives was found to have been removed from mine sites.
Although the regulatory requirements have become increasing stringent since this time, the way in which mines manage explosives inventory remains unchanged – until now.
Rodney Bedggood has spent many years as a mine manager, and possesses firsthand experience in the deficiencies of paper-based explosives inventory control processes and the inordinate amount of engineering time and resources which are dedicated to maintaining such systems.
This prompted him to develop a technology solution, called Magman (Magazine Management).
This dedicated electronic real-time inventory control system for explosives, allows accurate and auditable inventory movements in and out of the magazine, rapid identification of any inventory discrepancies allowing investigations to be undertaken quickly.
Magman has provided the industry a functional and practical alternative to explosives paper based inventory control systems, with a streamlined electronic process for explosives inventory management, including:
- enhanced reporting features;
- instantaneously updated records;
- a fully auditable document trail;
- real-time movement tracking and;
- up-to-date stock takes at the press of a button.
No more scrunched-up papers, no more manual reconciliations, reduced engineering resources to manage magazine inventory and no more delays in identifying stock discrepancies.
Now, when an operator is required to remove / return explosives from a magazine, they simply use a specialised, rugged tablet – loaded with the Magman software.
The Magman software guides the operator through three simple steps, which records a fully auditable and accurate record of each inventory movement.
The Magman system requires very minimal training for operators due to its simplistic interface.
Once a transaction or stock take is complete, the data is sent to the cloud based server, where a reconciliation statement can be output instantly by the engineer or mine manager.
This allows any discrepancies to be identified in a timely manner, while they are still easily traceable.
The end result is timely reporting and peace of mind for Mine Managers who are legally responsible for the control and responsible use of the company’s explosives.
With more than 70 Magman systems being used throughout the industry by some of the larger mining houses, the Magman system has broad acceptance throughout the industry.
This innovative product, born from necessity and developed after many years of practical mining and explosives management experience, has now become part of the KPMG METS scale-up program.
With the benefit of experienced mentors, a comprehensive business and legal structure and an analysis of the market, Magman has grown significantly in recent years.
Apart from its rapid uptake in the mining industry, the Magman software is also suited to rail companies that transport explosives, pyrotechnic companies which must also account for all their pyrotechnics devices and even hospitals which are required to log the inventory levels of their radioactive products.
In addition to the cutting-edge explosives inventory solution, Magman has a Short Interval Control/Supervisor Production tracking system and also supplies rugged notebooks and tablets through its e-commerce website, 1300MAGMAN.com.au.
After many years managing mines throughout Australia and Internationally, Rodney also offers a range of mine consulting services including mine management, project management, statutory ticketed positions; mine design and planning; mine feasibility and mine operational reviews.
