Tirupati's Graphite Mining-Milling Facility is Now Digital

‍

With Grid, Tirupati Graphite digitized its integrated mining and milling facility with a centralized data management system for their entire flake graphite value chain. This creates a seamless flow of information and collaboration between teams, analytical decision making and complete visibility. Tirupati Graphite used Grid’s technology to achieve a 35% increment in improvement and optimization of processes and production.

Tirupati Graphite© Grid 2022

At A Glance:

• 35+ users
• 4 projects in Madagascar and India
• 125,000+ data points uploaded
• 70+ worksheets

‍

‍

Timeline

How did Grid & Tirupati Graphite collaboration come about?

Tirupati Graphite used to rely on a number of traditional reporting systems that had to be patched together to achieve a somewhat workable solution. Grid combines and makes available all those separate functionalities in a single powerful and flexible tool:

Snapshot

Who's using Grid @ Tirupati Graphite?

Before Grid

Tirupati Graphite used to rely on a number of independent software solutions that had to be patched together to achieve a somewhat workable solution. Grid combines and makes available all those separate functionalities in a single powerful and flexible tool:

MS Excel / Google Sheets

Usage: Since the data was not standardized during collection, it first needed to be imported into a spreadsheet program and cleaned up.
Issues: Time-consuming, prone to input errors, no way to enforce standardization of data. Also, since MS Excel is not a collaborative tool, versioncontrol and synchronization of data was also a concern.

WhatsApp

Usage: Tirupati Graphite used to conduct their Daily Progress Reports (DPRs) and Timesheet management using WhatsApp to receive individual employee reports which would then be collated by hand into spreadsheets.
Issues: WhatsApp chats need to be manually processed into a DPR format, are prone to errors, and don’t preserve a permanent record of all chats.

Using Grid’s companion mobile app, this process is now complete in a fraction of the time, and there’s no need for any manual collation

Paper Logs

Usage: Tirupati Graphite used paper logs to record the results of their sample surveys, prior to Grid.
Issues: Paper logs are cumbersome to digitize into spreadsheets, with handwriting and other factors causing further delays. It's also an impermanent record, which leads to loss of data if improperly / incorrectly transcribed.

Grid and its linked worksheets solve the need for paper logging, allowing users to enter data directly into the database via the mobile app, which works even in areas with no internet access.

‍

Operations @ Tirupati Graphite, Powered By Grid

Tracking Planning and Operations Metrics

Since the data for all operational processes is captured during the completion of operational activities, all mining personnel and management teams can see and track relevant metrics, like capacity utilization, amount of earth removed and ore raised.

Key Benefit

This allows any shortfalls or excesses to be spotted quickly, and corrective action can be taken at a much lower lag time.

Tracking Quality Control and Concentration

Tirupati Graphite’s end product is graded by certain standards and criteria which must be met in order to successfully fulfill orders. For example, the percentage amount of ash, or carbon, present in the finished product. These metrics too, are being calculated on the fly as the mining and processing is ongoing.

Key Benefit

Thus, a reduction in quality can now be spotted as soon as it becomes evident, leading to much faster course correction and increased profits, as well as happier customers!

Digitizing Exploration and Drilling Operations

End to end drilling programs are designed and implemented on Grid. Using rich features like location and image capture, Tirupati Graphite is able to capture data on their Lithology, Sampling, Collars and Assays activities. Resource geologists use Grid’s offline mode in remote areas and record drilling data which is instantly validated.

Key Benefit

Data flows seamlessly across applications used by the entire company, thus speeding up decision making processes, and giving an end-to-end visibility into the company’s operations and making the entire team more agile and proactive.

Digitizing Stores, Inventory and Purchasing

Teams use Grid to manage materials and inventories across 5+ store locations to track utilization and optimize stock and purchasing. Grid’s robust user management system allows specific people in the organization to raise, approve and dispose of purchase orders, delivery challans and confirmations as well as improving the management of receipts and other logistical and warehousing challenges.

Key Benefit

QR code powered asset management system ensures easier and faster up-to-date account of all items in storage. The entire purchasing process becomes more transparent and predictable as well, in real time.

‍

How Tirupati Graphite uses Grid

‍

Mapping: Sampling (Soil, Rock, etc)

Sampling is performed to ascertain the likely composition of mineral deposits underground, based on evidence on and beneath the surface of the Earth. Here’s how Grid helps Tirupati Graphite perform their various sampling processes:

• Step 01: When Tirupati Graphite’ geologists conduct a sampling exercise, data on each sample from the area being surveyed is entered into Grid using the companion mobile app.
• Step 02: The data entry process takes place at the very moment the sample is collected. Also, the terms and values used to describe each sample are pre-defined in Tirupati Graphite’ geological libraries, so geologists can only use standardized language, thus making sure the data is uniform and there is no data sanitization needed.
• Step 03: The app works offline, so all sample data is entered en masse and, when network coverage is available, the data is automatically uploaded.
• Step 04: Grid’s dashboards display the data as it is uploaded, in real time, using a variety of visualizations to show the composition of the minerals in the area being surveyed. This enables Resource Geologists and other Tirupati Graphite staff to locate where mineral deposits might be present.

‍

‍

Drilling: Sampling & Assays

The Sampling & Assays process at Tirupati Graphite involves drilling into the earth and extracting core samples that are then analyzed for mineral content. Grid speeds up this process immensely:

• Step 01: Core samples are drilled and examined by experienced Field Geologists. The data from the samples are entered into Grid’s companion mobile application in the order that the samples are examined.
• Step 02: Thanks to a predetermined data structure that Resource Geologists and other senior staff at Tirupati Graphite have built into Grid, the data accurately reflects the various depths at which minerals are found, as well as the composition of the intervening materials. This not only helps in planning where to drill to extract minerals, but also helps predict the likely resistance or obstacles that need to be overcome.
• Step 03: Grid’s dashboard displays this data in a number of useful ways using visualizations like Strip Logs, which indicate the composition of each core sample and its structure and makeup.
• Step 04: Planning and provisioning for mineral extraction becomes incredibly easy thanks to the wealth of data available that’s easily understood, on a real-time basis.

‍

‍

‍

The Grid Effect

How has Grid changed work @ Tirupati Graphite?

Grid empowered Tirupati Graphite to move away from paper, Excel and WhatsApp based reporting systems to a fully interconnected platform. The result is the foundation of a long-term digital asset within the organization that can serve as the analytical brain within as it continues to expand. Grid has created a central information repository for Tirupati across all sites, offices and stakeholders.

‍