The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 20, 2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has launched a cutting-edge operational dashboard at its Jamkhani Coal Mine in Odisha, setting a new benchmark for mining efficiency and innovation. The advanced digital platform integrates real-time data, optimizes performance metrics, and automates key operational processes, marking a significant leap in the company’s digital transformation journey.
Developed in-house by a specialized team, the dashboard employs a First Principles approach, enabling the company to track mining operations at their most fundamental levels. By using the Time-in-Use Model (TUM), it provides actionable insights into planned and actual cut rates, coal exposure, machinery utilization, and the quality of coal dispatch and stock.
As Vedanta’s first-ever greenfield coal mine and Odisha’s first private greenfield mine, Jamkhani is fully operational and serves the coal requirements of Vedanta’s Jharsuguda plant, the world’s largest aluminium smelter.
Emphasizing the dashboard’s role in driving the company’s commitment to digitalization, Vedanta Aluminium COO Sunil Gupta said, “This innovative operational dashboard is a significant step forward in enhancing operational efficiency. It empowers our team to optimize processes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.”
David Stone, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium’s Coal Mines Division, further elaborated on the strategic importance of the dashboard, noting, “Developed in-house, this platform is a key part of Vedanta’s vision to integrate digital tools across our operations. Future advancements, such as SAP integration and fleet management systems, will further improve operational precision and sustainability.”
Vedanta has made remarkable strides in its digital transformation, adopting a digital-first approach across its coal mining operations. Among the standout initiatives is the use of drones for blasting zone clearance, which enhances safety by expanding coverage during blasting operations and eliminating blind spots, protecting personnel, machinery, and livestock. Another significant development is the Glocab vehicle booking app, a GPS-enabled system that streamlines vehicle bookings, tracking, and administrative approvals, boosting operational efficiency. To further enhance safety, the company has implemented a collision avoidance system, which alerts drivers when another vehicle is nearby, helping prevent accidents. Additionally, Vedanta employs a fleet management system that ensures accurate coal trip accounting by using GPS and geofencing technology to track fleet movements from pit to stockyard. The Contract Manpower Management System (CMMS) simplifies the onboarding and gate entry of contract employees, seamlessly tracking attendance through a biometric system. Finally, the dashboard for Kodingamali Mines facilitates production and dispatch tracking by providing real-time reporting, automated updates, mail triggers, and automatic calculations of performance highlights, offering deep insights into areas for improvement.
These initiatives are a testament to Vedanta’s commitment to using digital solutions to drive operational excellence and innovation across its coal mining operations.
