Project managers, consultants, vendors, contractors and engineers working on diversified mining group Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Medupi Expansion Project (GMEP), in Lephalale, Limpopo, have drastically cut lead times on technical clarifications and project concessions during project design, fabrication, construction and commissioning phases, using project management company SSG Consulting’s project management system, KEY360, the company tells Mining Weekly.

SSG senior consultant at the GMEP Pieter Scholtz says some of the lead times needed on clarifying technical information and concession feedback for the design, fabrication, construction and commissioning of equipment at the mine were cut from about six months to just a week in some cases – and even less in others. “This type of project management was possible with SSG’s digital systems, which update project statuses and report issues in real time,” he says.

However, Scholtz notes that the company did face some obstacles in implementing the solution. There were initial glitches because personnel had to get used to the new system in general, while some personnel also had to get used to switching from paperwork to capturing project reports on SSG’s Web-based system with digital signatures.

With training and hands-on assistance from SSG, these problems were overcome in a short time and everyone has praised the system, adds Scholtz.

He highlights erratic Internet connectivity as another issue in implementing the solution at the GMEP. To mitigate this, SSG recommended that Internet lines at the mine be updated and improved.

Project Scope
SSG was previously involved with the GMEP, as SSG CEO Steven Golding was instrumental in providing input during the prefeasibility and feasibility studies required for the project.

Once the GMEP was under way in 2007, SSG implemented its Review Action List system to capture design review comments on the design drawings.

SSG’s system enabled designated personnel to have access to these documents’ revision history and comments on every drawing revision through the system-controlled environment. “With this system, we can backtrack to any draw-ing’s history and changes made by a particular person. This enables Exxaro to have full control of every aspect of the red lining of project documentation, or squad check process, that was controlled using our system,” says Scholtz.

Various project management modules were used for the GMEP, which included modules designed to address technical queries, concessions, design reviews and the capturing of punching items, as well as regulating, reporting and updating during on-site commissioning of work. These modules also enabled SSG to exercise quality control, as key personnel were able to monitor progress and raise issues, such as poor performance, before the issue became so problematic that it hindered the progress of the GMEP.

Scholtz adds that the on-site vendors and contractors especially benefited from SSG’s system, as it gave them full-time access to vital documents and information, which significantly accelerated the process of getting crucial equipment and technical clarification on issues resolved on site as quickly as possible.

SSG’s Future at GMEP
While SSG’s contract will reach completion at the end of this month, Scholtz believes that the company’s solutions can continue to be used for vital processes at the Grootegeluk mine and future projects.