Onsite laboratories at mining operations are mission-critical assets. Their “customers” are internal teams—geology, metallurgy, processing—who rely on timely, accurate results to keep production flowing. If assays, moisture, or metallurgical balances are delayed, production grinds to a halt. This isn’t a lab problem—it’s a business risk.
To avoid becoming a bottleneck, onsite labs must operate with the mindset of a business unit, balancing service quality, turnaround time, and resource efficiency.
Reframing the Lab’s Role
- You’re not a support function; you’re a production partner. Your lab’s outputs drive decisions on ore blending, mill feed optimization, and metal recovery.
- Service Level Expectations: Internal teams expect fast, reliable results—just like external paying customers would.
- Operational Accountability: Downtime caused by delayed assays or invalid results is a direct cost to the mine’s bottom line.
Applying Business Principles in the Lab
- Turnaround Time is King: Prioritize workflows to meet shift schedules, blending plans, and critical path assays. Guarantee TAT commitments and monitor them rigorously.
- Quality without Compromise: Accuracy is non-negotiable in grade control, but efficiency matters. Define “fit for purpose” quality standards to balance precision with speed.
- Measure and Improve: Track KPIs like assay TAT, sample throughput, re-run rates, and resource utilization. Continuous improvement isn’t a luxury—it’s essential to keep pace with production demands.
How LIMS Enables a Business-First Approach
- Automated Sample Tracking: From drill core to final assay, ensure real-time visibility of sample status to all stakeholders.
- Workflow Standardization: Eliminate manual errors and variability with consistent, validated methods embedded in the LIMS.
- Performance Dashboards: Provide production teams with live updates on assay progress, queue status, and estimated completion times.
- Operational Integration: Seamless data exchange with mine planning, processing, and metallurgical reporting systems ensures decisions are made with the latest information.
The Payoff
- Reduced Production Delays: Reliable, predictable assay delivery supports uninterrupted production.
- Increased Throughput: Optimized workflows mean more samples processed in less time, without sacrificing quality.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Transparent lab performance metrics build trust with operations and processing teams.
- Proactive Issue Management: Early identification of bottlenecks or QA issues prevents costly downstream impacts.
Your onsite lab isn’t a cost centre. It’s a production enabler. Running it like a business ensures the mine keeps moving—and profits keep flowing.
Ready to transform your lab into a production powerhouse?
Learn more about our laboratory solutions and see how Datamine helps you optimise efficiency, turnaround time, and integration.
