Management Operating Systems (MOS) are crucial for coordinating all processes in a mining operation to meet daily and weekly targets. However, in many mines, the MOS's ability to effectively coordinate in the short term (within 48 hours) is not at the desired level.

While MOS provides the necessary structure and control, adjusting to unexpected changes or disruptions takes time. Daily plans often do not accommodate the rapid adjustments needed in a dynamic environment. The emphasis on routine tasks and "box-checking" limits managers' and workers' ability to think creatively or solve problems effectively.

Moreover, MOS's effectiveness hinges on middle management's ability to communicate, collaborate, and lead effectively. Without strong leadership skills, MOS can devolve into a rigid process focused on compliance rather than achieving real operational gains.

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The Need for Agility in MOS

The rigidity of the typical MOS can hinder performance in dynamic and unpredictable environments characterized by unpredictable geology, unplanned equipment failures, and incidents. This is especially true in settings where design, resourcing, and strategy have created a moving bottleneck. Complex and interdependent tasks requiring frequent and rapid adjustments may overwhelm the MOS.

Adding agility to the MOS is essential to overcome these challenges. Mining operations need a way to maintain the stability and control of their existing systems while introducing flexibility to respond to immediate issues. This is where the integration of agile practices becomes critical.

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Introducing Kotter's Dual Operating System

In his book Accelerate, John Kotter describes a dual operating system that offers groundbreaking ideas applicable to mining operations. He identifies the need for agility to balance the equally valuable stability and control that systems like MOS offer.

• Hierarchical Component (MOS): Provides a stable foundation for consistent and reliable operations with a clear chain of command.

• Network Component: This component adds agility alongside the hierarchical structure, allowing the quick formation of cross-functional teams to respond to emerging opportunities and threats.

By adopting this dual system, organizations can retain the strengths of their existing MOS while gaining the flexibility to adapt rapidly to changing conditions.

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Enhancing MOS with Stratflow's Flow Room

Building on Kotter's concept, Stratflow's Flow Room offers a practical solution to enhance MOS performance and add agility. Over the past 20 years, the Flow Room has demonstrated its ability to improve stability and introduce necessary flexibility into mining operations (see link in comments).

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Improved stability and flow

• Stabilizing Production Flow: By introducing protective capacity and buffers around bottlenecks, the Flow Room stabilizes production (reduces variability) at significantly higher outputs than the norm.

• Clarity and Focus: Provides management and operational teams with a clear focus on critical short- and medium-term priorities. This reduces distractions and allows teams to concentrate on tasks that directly impact production and safety outcomes.

• Simplified Coordination: Reduces the cognitive load on managers, dramatically enhancing MOS performance.

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Added Flexibility

• Flexible Network Structures: Enables the formation and dissolution of cross-functional teams as needed, facilitating rapid problem-solving and collaboration.

• Real-Time Adaptation: The Flow Room encourages continuous monitoring and rapid feedback loops, allowing for real-time adjustments in plans and operations. This is crucial in mining, where delays in response can lead to significant safety risks, production losses, and increased costs.

 

By integrating the Flow Room into the existing MOS, mining companies can effectively manage the tension between stability and agility. This combined approach allows for smoother day-to-day operations while being nimble enough to handle unexpected challenges, thereby increasing overall operational resilience.

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Conclusion

While MOS offers valuable structure and control for daily operations, its emphasis on procedure often limits its effectiveness in dynamic and unpredictable situations requiring rapid coordination. By adopting agile practices like Stratflow's Flow Room (dual management operating system), mining companies can enhance their MOS to provide increased stability with added agility. This balanced approach enables miners to respond swiftly to changing conditions while maintaining production near maximum levels.

Heads of departments and frontline management jointly find solutions, making it easier to gain buy-in for new ways of working. This intervention dramatically impacts safety, trust, cooperation, engagement, and productivity.

By embracing a dual operating system and integrating agile practices, mining operations can navigate the complexities of modern mining environments more effectively. It also ensures that the workforce remains engaged, motivated, and aligned with the organization's goals, which is critical for sustaining performance in a challenging and unpredictable environment.