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Improving operator support and selection processes
Abstract

Improving operator support and selection processes

Graham Lumley
Proceedings of the 2006 University Research Conference, p.6
University Research Conference: Research Impact: Benefiting Society, 2006 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2006)
2006
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Abstract

Business and Management dragline operations
Dragline operations support over $5 billion in Australia's export earnings per year. Variations in dragline operator performance have major maintenance and productivity implications for mines. Approximately $2 million per drag line per year could be saved by replacing operators who achieve below-average performance with operators who achieve higher productivity and lower damage costs, through better selection and training practices. Different drag line operators perform at different levels but there has never been a validated way of determining the performance capabilities of individuals. For many operator jobs, the next person-in-line is selected. To address these shortcomings, a field study was conducted that investigated whether psychomotor skills, personality or demographic factors can predict dragline performance. Perception, coordination, intelligence, personality and demographics were measured through a computer based testing program, called the Vienna Test System (VTS). Conscientiousness was assessed in terms of dependability, hardworking, achievement-orientation and perseverance through supervisor ratings. A total of 14 mines with 28 draglines allowed testing on their sites. These mines employ approximately 350 dragline operators out of an overall population of 800 in Australia. A total of 191 operators participated in testing, which took approximately 1.5 hours each. Of the operators tested, 185 provided valid data sets, which included between 500 and 35,000 cycles of actual operating data for each participant, from minesite monitors and the testing data. A new productivity measure was developed specifically for this study in order to overcome the confounding variables that undermine the reliability of existing measures. The test-retest reliability of the productivity measure showed correlation of 0.96 compared with 0.57 for previous measures. Two of the VTS tests, which take less than 30 minutes to administer, in conjunction with age, explain 64 percent of the variation in operator performance. A number of significant findings were also made on current training methods, motivation and reduction in performance overtime.

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