Group embraces tech to streamline operations

The Liso Programme – a power business intelligence (BI) application of diversified minerals and energy company Menar – has positively impacted its operations, says chief innovation officer Cleavon Moothoosamy.

Liso, meaning “eye” in IsiXhosa and conceptualised by Menar in 2019, has been designed in-house to positively adapt the company's approach to production monitoring.

It embraces the integration of descriptive analytics, offering a clear view of the group’s operations through data visualisation and real-time monitoring.

“Building on this foundation, we introduced diagnostic analytics to identify root causes and address operational inefficiencies effectively,” says Moothoosamy, adding that the programme has streamlined Menar’s production processes through this visualisation and detailed diagnostics.

This improvement is consistent with the company’s initial projections, indicating that Liso's capabilities are effectively addressing the company’s operational needs.

Liso's diagnostic function has empowered Menar’s management team to make better-informed, data-driven decisions swiftly, resulting in optimised resource allocation and improved operational strategies, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity, notes Moothoosamy.

While Liso excels in providing descriptive and diagnostic analytics, the vision of the innovation team is to elevate its capabilities to cognitive analytics.

“We are on a path to evolve Liso into a more cognitive tool – one that not only analyses past and present data, but also predicts future outcomes and learns from interactions,” he enthuses.

Cognitive Shift

The shift towards cognitive analytics represents a significant leap forward in Menar’s digital transformation journey, as it aims to improve predictive maintenance and operational optimisation, in addition to enhancing decision-making, group sustainability and safety measures.

The transition, explains Moothoosamy, will transform Liso from a powerful monitoring and diagnostic tool into an intelligent system capable of driving innovation and efficiency across all facets of Menar’s operations.

“This evolution will not only bolster our production capabilities but also reinforce our dedication to sustainability, safety and operational excellence,” he adds.

Further, the journey underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging the latest technology to address the industry's most pressing challenges.

Technology Additions

Menar is also actively exploring and implementing several other modern technologies as part of its ongoing digital transformation journey.

Moothoosamy highlights the company’s goal to leverage these technologies including notable initiatives such as integrating Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices across its mining operations to collect real-time data on equipment performance, environmental conditions and worker safety.

“These sensors provide critical insights that help us monitor and optimise our processes more effectively.”

Importantly, the IoT sensors are used to track the health and performance of mining equipment, thereby enabling management to predict failures and schedule maintenance proactively, consequently lowering instances of downtime.

In terms of environmental monitoring, the sensors track air quality, noise levels and other environmental factors, ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing the company’s sustainability efforts.

“With Liso, we are not just adapting to the future; we are actively shaping it, paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable and efficient mining industry,” concludes Moothoosamy.