When cost benefit analysis is encouraging by designed program run with realistic data for a new or reorganized method, then planning for scheduling is logical next step. Coal mine project construction is highly capital-intensive; funding requirement is very often changing for geological and techno-economic reasons.
6.1 Opencast Coal Mine Project Monitoring - Computerized AON PERT diagram, created on a computer by the set of input data of a large project. The activity name is followed by duration in brackets, e.g. coal production sec-A. Since, the project has been rescheduled, there was very little float, found in the chart. The critical activities, is shown by bold lines, on the bar chart, as computed by the compiler. New techniques were applied by the researcher for numerous advantages of reviewing computerized networks, after the first input of data. Review could be done any date, provided all data of revision or reschedule of activities. Activities could be split, deleted, inserted or even relocated with change of dependencies, with change of start dates and resources, the compiler automatically computes, all remaining parameters of the network.
6.2 Underground Coal Project Monitoring- According to the above system of packages, a project network of an underground mine of ECL, codenamed SAT, was computerized. The project was designed to produce 1.2 Mt of coal per year. 2 new shafts, 7.2 m Φ had been sunk up to Dissergarh seam in the first phase and were being equipped. A pair of inclines was to driven to Dissergarh seam also to work the seam in the rise area.
Project completion time-TMIN, COUT(J) set to 0, incremented by 1.Similarly, ES-early start, EF-early finish, LS-late start, LF-Late Finish, EN and LN-early or late completion of node, with dates [14,34]. In Forward Pass, all activities are to be computed from node 1 till completion. FF(i) = 0+T(i),LS(J)=LF(J0-T(J). In Backward Pass, latest node time is set equal to project completion time, starting from last node. LN(M) =TMIN=EN(M). CPM is applied, when time schedules are worked out to determine critical path and rescheduling.
6.4 Capital Budget Monitoring- Because of geo-mining problems, rescheduling has to be resorted to very often and adjusting fund scheduling. Resource allocation [13, 28] as per schedule is essential, like men, money, machinery and materials of which money is the most important, as it can arrange other resources. The spreadsheet columns and rows are required to be updated every month, a model ‘macro’ program has been designed by the researcher for automatic cursor movement, for input of data, saving and printing. Moreover, in the spreadsheet, cell formulae have been incorporated for automatic computing of the assigned variable, totals etc. Computing monthly financial scheduling, showing the columns that need not be changed every month of all projects of a company. In multi-project financial allocation, as per priority of projects and criticality of activities some re-allocation of budget between different heads and projects has to be made with joint meetings and exigencies of the situation.
6.5 Coal Projects Responsibility Scheduling - Main Purpose is to ensure achievement of targeted schedules, within budgeted cost and manpower, by solving day-to-day problems of responsibility scheduling [22, 36]. Thus, a model program ‘mbo’ is created, for specific purpose, here for charting the key tasks for different management positions according to conditions in the coalmine project. Decision Chart and the query based computer program is able to produce a revised Decision Chart, of any month for any project. On detail studies, outcome of this process to standardize coal project 24 key tasks against 13 different management positions in coal industry.
Job Effectiveness Description JED of a mine Project Manager, developed by the researcher, shows Program Run of mbo.java for a Particular Project for the Review Month. The executives in green colored boxes should actively cooperate for the key task area shown, those in yellow color to help whenever required and those in red color need not bother for this key task and concentrate on their routine duties.
If the coalmine project officials are not responsive to the changing situations, and stick to routine duties, the project would suffer and so there is need for responsibility scheduling. Objective Setting by Action Plan, Responsibility scheduling with Decision Chart by Confidence Factor CF and and sample run mbo.bat displays for a particular project for certain month. Figure-5 shows the flowchart executive manpower scheduling. Figure-8 shows model run of the program for different key tasks. Figure-6 displays Model Run of the Program for Different Key Tasks for different executive positions.
6.5 Crisis Management Scheduling - Quick scheduling of activities is very important in any disaster or crisis on [27] strategies with allocation of responsibilities by phone, wireless etc. Coal mining is very disaster-prone and numerous catastrophes have taken place owing to fire, explosion, inundation, roof-fall etc. in which many employees lost their lives. Disaster struck at Mahabir Colliery, west of Raniganj town of ECL, a subsidiary of CIL on 13th Nov’89 at 4 AM, when there was sudden inrush of water from old workings of upper Nega (R-VIII) seam to working Narainkuri (R-VII) seam. Water swirled down inundating the pit-bottom of the working pits A & B and lower workings of the mine. Mahabir capsule rescue is still a world record of its type, 65 employees in 4 days, in contrast to rescue of the 33 miners trapped deep underground for 69 days, in mine in Chile, who got trapped on 5 August and brought up on 14 October 2010.
In model program ‘dew’ inputs of STAT_VOL (Static volume of water underground), SEPG_WAT (Make of water), DEW_RAT (Dewatering rate), FLB_RAT (into the mine through surface fissures), are made for computing DEW_TIME in days (for dewatering). Sample run of the model program, with incremental dewatering and flow-back rates of water was done. Although, 59 survivors were rescued on 3rd day, but ALT_NO 10 in the program run came close to reality, when after about a month, 6 dead bodies were recovered. This is a unique world-record making disaster management scheduling work, in which the researcher had played a key role. The researcher’s contribution was acclaimed by international journals like Reader’s Digest, June ’91 issue in English, Oct ’91 issue in Hindi, January’92 issue in Dutch and in many other language editions.