Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
Although South Africa possesses more than 80% of the world’s platinum reserves, its reliability in supplying platinum to global markets is under threat. This is due to the decrease in output per worker of 49% (1999-2014), while the domestic cost have risen too quickly by more than 10% annually for the past 5 years. In addition, the continued decline in the commodity price by 38.3% (2012-2016) which has led a significant portion of the sector to mine at a loss in 2015. The chamber of mines has suggested that solutions to improve productivity and reduce cost pressures are required. This research aims to increase productivity by providing operational excellence through the improvement of efficiency by applying a project management methodology to a mining stope. The selected methodology for application was the Event Chain Project Management methodology, which should manage the inherent risks, which affect the mining stope schedule, improve the efficiency of operations by reducing the time spent in each activity, improve productivity by reducing the duration of the project, and reduce operational costs in the process. A case study used to carry out the research in platinum mines; data collected using a motion time study to measure the current efficiency of operations in each mining stope through actual activity durations. The results indicate that through the application of the Event Chain Project Management methodology, risks affecting the mining stope schedule were properly managed, the efficiency of operations was improved through the reduction of time spent in each activity, productivity was increased by reducing the project duration, and operational costs were reduced in the process.