Leading the way in Virtual Reality
training strategy and technology
wireless enabled electronic system with 2 way
communication capabilities
read interview
MiNE Magazine interviewed Enaex’s HR development director (Soledad Bauer), HR training manager (Raimundo Diaz) and initiation systems’ product implementation manager (Christian Mardones), to discuss the latest developments in Virtual Reality training and what the future holds for the mining industry.
Why are VR Training solutions important and how did you identify the need?
RD: The key issue was to identify a solution to recurrent limitations in the existing blasting services staff training practices. After evaluating various options, the benefits this technology entails for our training requirements reflect - a strong reason - to work towards developing and revamping traditional methods. At this first stage, we looked into a specific part of the blasting process; focusing on the mobile manufacturing unit and the related explosives loading. This part of the training process is critical, since normal classroom coaching is nonapplicable and onsite practicing is limited. The next step was to trial the technology to get feedback from our experienced collaborators, instead of waiting for the final project deployment, resulting in an improved final tool.
SB: Implementing alternative and more modern training is part of our global strategy, to generate autonomous professionals focused, among other things, in their training. Enaex Academy, the training platform we developed, enables self-management by giving access to our teams to different training techniques, both for technical and soft abilities development. One of the main elements of this strategy is virtual reality, opening a new world of possibilities in a simulated environment. Aiming to contribute to humanize mining, we have successfully implemented technology to avoid exposure to unnecessary dangers.
What are the biggest advantages of using virtual reality training?
RD: Virtual reality has improved the effectiveness of learning with three core premises. Firstly, and simply put; we have been able to prepare employees faster, training more people in shorter periods of time. Secondly, you get tremendous logistic advantages, given the complexity to train workers at the mine and that regular classroom training would not suffice. With VR strategy you can take the training to the mine, so the workers can use every minute available for training instead of leaving the site to attend training in a different location. Lastly, the data compiled provides information on the impact and performance of the personnel. This information is vital for operators to be able to understand their improvements, see how long they took to complete the exercise, how many errors, what can be improved and more, resulting in a database that reflects which worker is better prepared or needs more training.
How can VR training be used in the future of mining?
CM: Today, we have developed two training products: Mobile Manufacturing Unit and Electronic Initiation System virtual reality experience. We are able to capture the data from these training programs into the Enaex Academy database, and from there help make the training more efficient. I see big value for the future, as the mine is able to have less people on site, resulting in savings. It will also help us in our purpose to humanize mining. With Enaex VR training we will be able to develop skilled users and generate special plans for them leading into the future.
SB: We want to improve the conditions that the miners are currently working in. Miners face harsh weather conditions, can be away from their families for a long period of time or can just be in an unsafe setting due to work risks. This is why we have developed various initiatives such as Enaex Robotics and VR training strategy, as part of our purpose to humanize mining. We have the audacity to introduce a new method while reducing the risks associated with the mine. In the future, I can imagine robots handling the dangerous work on site while we are able to train the workforce with VR training.
RD: With this vision of the future, our teams could be managing the onsite robots from the comfort of their homes.We have observed that the VR experience is an excellent option to continue training programs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with strong benefits considering self-sufficient training and sites travelling restrictions for trainers. As a result, relevant inputs are being obtained on which training programs additional modules can be “uploaded” to our VR training program during the next months. The site team needs efficient training in being able to drive a manufacturing unit and initiation systems, concluding that VR is the most efficient way of doing this.
What are the challenges you have faced implementing VR training?
RD: We were expecting to face challenges across Enaex incorporating the VR technology, but we have been positively surprised with a quick adaptation. Our clients are understanding the development as a benefit improving our performance in different ways. An additional perk of the tool deployment is transforming the technology into a data driven company, providing support to decision-makers to ensure future projects will count with the adequate workforce.
SB: Our main target is to create strategic partnerships with our clients. We seek to provide solutions of exceptional value while understanding their needs. In this line, we do not adopt technology just for the sake of using technology, but rather apply it when it generates added value to our clients.
What has the reaction been from workers who are using the virtual reality training so far?
SB: Despite being a company with 100 years of innovations, we still expected certain adoption resistance from our more experienced staff. Actually, once they used and applied the VR training tool, our teams supported the tool development through improvement recommendations, appreciating the opportunity to learn by themselves and to use these new methods that we are offering. This is what makes virtual reality training so special.
Enaex leading the way in Virtual Reality training strategy and technology
wireless enabled electronic system with 2 way communication capabilities
read interview
MiNE Magazine interviewed Enaex’s HR development director (Soledad Bauer), HR training manager (Raimundo Diaz) and initiation systems’ product implementation manager (Christian Mardones), to discuss the latest developments in Virtual Reality training and what the future holds for the mining industry.
Why are VR Training solutions important and how did you identify the need?
RD: The key issue was to identify a solution to recurrent limitations in the existing blasting services staff training practices. After evaluating various options, the benefits this technology entails for our training requirements reflect - a strong reason - to work towards developing and revamping traditional methods. At this first stage, we looked into a specific part of the blasting process; focusing on the mobile manufacturing unit and the related explosives loading. This part of the training process is critical, since normal classroom coaching is nonapplicable and onsite practicing is limited. The next step was to trial the technology to get feedback from our experienced collaborators, instead of waiting for the final project deployment, resulting in an improved final tool.
SB: Implementing alternative and more modern training is part of our global strategy, to generate autonomous professionals focused, among other things, in their training. Enaex Academy, the training platform we developed, enables self-management by giving access to our teams to different training techniques, both for technical and soft abilities development. One of the main elements of this strategy is virtual reality, opening a new world of possibilities in a simulated environment. Aiming to contribute to humanize mining, we have successfully implemented technology to avoid exposure to unnecessary dangers.
What are the biggest advantages of using virtual reality training?
RD: Virtual reality has improved the effectiveness of learning with three core premises. Firstly, and simply put; we have been able to prepare employees faster, training more people in shorter periods of time. Secondly, you get tremendous logistic advantages, given the complexity to train workers at the mine and that regular classroom training would not suffice. With VR strategy you can take the training to the mine, so the workers can use every minute available for training instead of leaving the site to attend training in a different location. Lastly, the data compiled provides information on the impact and performance of the personnel. This information is vital for operators to be able to understand their improvements, see how long they took to complete the exercise, how many errors what can be improved, and more resulting in a database that reflects which worker is better prepared or needs more training.
How can VR training be used in the future of mining?
CM: Today, we have developed two training products: Mobile Manufacturing Unit and Electronic Initiation System virtual reality experience. We are able to capture the data from these training programs into the Enaex Academy database, and from there help make the training more efficient. I see big value for the future, as the mine is able to have less people on site, resulting in savings. It will also help us in our purpose to humanize mining. With Enaex VR training we will be able to develop skilled users and generate special plans for them leading into the future.
SB: We want to improve the conditions that the miners are currently working in. Miners face harsh weather conditions, can be away from their families for a long period of time or can just be in an unsafe setting due to work risks. This is why we have developed various initiatives such as Enaex Robotics and VR training strategy, as part of our purpose to humanize mining. We have the audacity to introduce a new method while reducing the risks associated with the mine. In the future, I can imagine robots handling the dangerous work on site while we are able to train the workforce with VR training.
RD: With this vision of the future, our teams could be managing the onsite robots from the comfort of their homes.We have observed that the VR experience is an excellent option to continue training programs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with strong benefits considering self-sufficient training and sites travelling restrictions for trainers. As a result, relevant inputs are being obtained on which training programs additional modules can be “uploaded” to our VR training program during the next months. The site team needs efficient training in being able to drive a manufacturing unit and initiation systems, concluding that VR is the most efficient way of doing this.
What are the challenges you have faced implementing VR training?
RD: We were expecting to face challenges across Enaex incorporating the VR technology, but we have been positively surprised with a quick adaptation. Our clients are understanding the development as a benefit improving our performance in different ways. An additional perk of the tool deployment is transforming the technology into a data driven company, providing support to decision-makers to ensure future projects will count with the adequate workforce.
SB: Our main target is to create strategic partnerships with our clients. We seek to provide solutions of exceptional value while understanding their needs. In this line, we do not adopt technology just for the sake of using technology, but rather apply it when it generates added value to our clients.
What has the reaction been from workers who are using the virtual reality training so far?
SB: Despite being a company with 100 years of innovations, we still expected certain adoption resistance from our more experienced staff. Actually, once they used and applied the VR training tool, our teams supported the tool development through improvement recommendations, appreciating the opportunity to learn by themselves and to use these new methods that we are offering. This is what makes virtual reality training so special.