How to Increase Throughput with Bulk Material Handling Software

Agricultural and mining operations continually strive to increase throughput to maximize profits at bulk material handling sites. The key to increasing throughput is improving efficiency which is accomplished when site operators have real-time visibility into equipment, inventories, and associated quality levels across the supply chain. Today’s business environment demands real-time information from a single data source with proven reliability.

Targeting Maximum Returns

Bulk handling facilities such as grain facilities and port terminals are under constant pressure to increase throughput and achieve exacting cargo requirements. Receival, transfer, and loading functions must become more efficient. Agricultural facilities are increasingly required to add value to stored products through blending, milling, or separating of products for optimal fulfillment of orders. Planners and schedulers at mining sites must maximize process visibility so they can make the best decisions.

The Need for Real-Time Information of Stock Inventory

Operators that manage site movements require a process solution that captures all site movement data in real-time. The ability to integrate quality information with this real-time data allows decision makers to develop cargo load plans that satisfy customer requirements without waste.

Supply Chain Insights

Material handling technology, which provides process and quality information across the supply chain and includes stockpiles and machines at mines and terminals, allows for real-time decision making, dynamic responses to process and market variations, and efficient order fulfillment. Bulk handling sites need a complete, integrated solution to increase throughput.

Eka's Bulk Material Handling Software Platform

Eka’s bulk handling software platform provides site management and stock management for agriculture and mining sites, plus stockpile management and 3D collision protection for mining sites.

InSight CM - Site Automation Control enables bulk handling sites to increase throughput by providing unprecedented accuracy in inventory and quality tracking. With Site Automation Control (SAC), site operators can graphically see all assets and effectively plan receival, transfer, and loading tasks at grain facilities, mines, terminals, and storage and handling facilities. As described in "Why Bulk Material Handling is Like Living Under the Sword of Damocles," SAC fulfills a critical function at bulk handling sites. SAC provides:

• Improved utilization of site assets using smart sequence control interlocking to control equipment based on material location; for example, turning off machinery when it is not required.
• Operational awareness and control through real-time material tracking and smart task control. The dynamic user interface displays only the most relevant information.
• Real-time visibility into all operations using a comprehensive reporting suite that includes productivity, equipment usage, tonnes passed over equipment, run hours, inventory, quality data, and maintenance and delay accounting.

Eka's SAC software provides several benefits to site operators that enable increased throughput:

• Reduce delays – Tasks are controlled at a granular level with descriptive displays. Distinction is made between downstream and upstream equipment and can be controlled separately, automatically where possible. Backup tasks can be specified and task change overs are quick.
• Lessen potential contamination – Hatch/hold positions used by the ship loader are identified which safeguards against possible product contamination.
• Improve product integrity – Blend ratios and potential blend imbalance situations are highlighted to operators.
• Protect the system – Operators can configure security at a granular level, down to each control element. Centralized administration of security roles is supported.

Bulk handling companies gain competitive advantage by implementing Eka's best-of-breed, next-generation software solutions. Pressure to increase efficiency, grow revenue, and minimize downtime are key challenges for these sites. Eka's software platform provides dynamic site representation, control, and comprehensive reporting, all within an advanced, integrated architecture.