Case Study: How is autonomation used to eliminate waste from a lean perspective in the Swedish mining industry?

Sammanfattning: How autonomation is used to eliminate waste from a lean perspective in the Swedish mining industry is researched to determine how this important aspect is handled, both from a autonomation and lean perspective. Existing research and knowledge on this matter is limited and the research aim to fill this theory gap.   The result and analysis of the study indicates that the two largest mining companies in Sweden (which makes up for the majority of the Swedish mining industry from mine operation perspective) categorize waste into four common waste categories; Transportation of personnel, transportation of equipment, waiting time of equipment and downtime of equipment. Autonomation is used to substantially reduce transportation of personnel and equipment since the operator can be isolated in an operator room. Autonomation in the Swedish mining industry also allows for better data analysis and communication which will reduce the waiting time and down time of equipment. Autonomation should also prevent products of abnormality to be produced. The vision on this is somewhat split in the Swedish mining industry and research is currently conducted to develop such solutions. The industry shares the same long-term vision of how to work with autonomation and lean in the future mines to further minimize waste. Although, there is no evidence showing that the Swedish mining industry would move to mechanized mining methods to create a continuous mining process which allows for optimal circumstances from a lean waste elimination perspective.