THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED LABOUR PLANNING SYSTEM FOR MINES

The mining industry is the largest source of foreign income for South Africa. It is also the main source of employment in the country. The focus of this study was to investigate the current underground labour planning models used in the platinum mines and to design an improved planning model for the optimal utilisation of labour. Financial modelling showed that an additional R38 million was realised for a platinum mine by increasing revenue on the mining side and at the same time decreasing labour costs. OPSOMMING Die mynbounywerheid is Suid-Afrika se grootste bron van buitelandse valuta asook die hoofbron van sy werkverskaffing. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die huidige produksie- en arbeidsbeplanning, en arbeidsbestuur vir ondergrondse mynbousisteme, soos tans in gebruik in die platinum mynbou-nywerheid, te ondersoek en te optimeer. Na suksesvolle implementering van hierdie projek is ’n finansiele analise gedoen en is bevind dat die inkomste vir 'n bepaalde platinummyn met R38 miljoen per jaar verbeter het.