Why the record of work matters for complex mining products

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Doug: It’s my pleasure! Where do you want to kick things off?

Doug: Absolutely. The record of work generated by users executing tasks in HINDSITE is crucial because it provides a real-time, transparent account of every task completed. It’s not just about documenting what’s been done—it’s about creating a live, actionable record that can be used by teams to make decisions immediately.

Just last week, one of our technology customers relied on a Workflow Report in HINDSITE to show a mining customer that their end of a contract had been fulfilled when a site inspection turned up an installation issue.

In an industry like mining, where precision and safety are paramount, having a detailed record of work enables our customers to react faster, spot inefficiencies, and continuously improve their processes. It’s a paradigm shifter.

Doug: Traditional methods, like paper logs or even some digital tools, are often retrospective—you’re logging data after the fact. By the time you have that data, opportunities for action might already be lost. With HINDSITE’s Workflow Reports, the record of work is built in real time as tasks are completed. That means teams can track progress and will never operate based on outdated information. Managers can step in as soon as they see an issue, and workers have more confidence knowing they’re following a clear, consistent process.

Doug: One great example is a major CAT engine rebuild facility we work with. By using HINDSITE’s Workflow Reports to create a standardised record of work, they reduced their assembly costs by 23%. They achieved this by identifying inefficiencies in real time and standardising their processes. It wasn’t just about saving costs—it was about ensuring every step was completed correctly, without any guesswork, and having that record immediately available to make adjustments. That’s the real value here—it’s not just about tracking, it’s about improving.

Doug: Standardisation is vital, particularly in the Mining Equipment, Technology, and Services sector, where you’re dealing with complex equipment, strict safety regulations, and high-value projects. Standardised workflows ensure that every task, whether it’s a major assembly or routine maintenance, is done consistently and to a high standard. This reduces variability, which in turn improves reliability and safety, and helps teams maintain efficiency even in high-pressure environments. Plus, when you standardise, you’re not just improving the current job—you’re laying the groundwork for continuous improvement over time.

Doug: Continuous improvement is all about learning from what’s been done and using that knowledge to refine future processes. The record of work created by Workflow Reports is key to that because it gives teams a complete picture of what’s happened, where things went right, and where things could be better. 

Having this real-time, detailed data means that companies can spot trends, address bottlenecks, and make incremental changes that lead to big improvements over time. It’s the foundation for building a more efficient, agile operation.

Doug: We’re focusing on enhancing our automation and integrations to make the record of work even more actionable. The mining industry is becoming more digital, and as it does, having a real-time, accurate record of work will be critical to staying competitive. And we’re excited to be showcasing our latest developments at IMARC 2024, so if you’re interested, come see us at Stand H33!  

The future of METS is all about working smarter, not harder, and our customers are already experiencing that future with the benefits of HINDSITE. A comprehensive record of work will play a significant role in driving this transformation."