Created by research fellow Daniel Bongers under ACARP funding, DowntimeDNA is a recording software package which provides a simple and easy-to-use interface to enter the cause of production delays as they occur.

“The down time records of most Australian longwalls are incomplete and inaccurate,” Bongers said.

“The nature of delays is often misreported, as well as an accurate duration of the delay. Not only does the DowntimeDNA accurately record the duration of faults, it also significantly reduces labour costs in that area.”

The software will use the mine’s existing pre-defined fault lists and will be installed on the maingate computer.

Bongers said the software can be installed with no disruption to the mine production.

Coal production team leader Peter Lugg said his goal was to have the majority of longwall mines install the software and to use the log data to create a down time database.

Using this log data, CRCMining plans to complete development of the world-first fault detection software which could potentially predict machine breakdowns, thereby moving towards predictive rather than reactive maintenance.

The software is free of charge to minesites. However, CRCMining recommends that the interface language and delay hierarchy be customised to match each mine’s existing down time recording system. CRCMining personnel will perform the customisation and installation at normal rates plus expense at cost.

Lugg said in its basic format, customisation and installation should cost less than $A10,000 for a first-time installation.

Lugg said the software could be easily upgraded to include the generation of shift reports.