Why labour, not cost, will drive automation<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture2-214x300.jpg\")
Hexagon\u2019s Mining President, Dave Goddard<\/p><\/div>\n
When I look across regions that have embraced autonomy earliest, a clear pattern emerges. Western Australia and the Canadian oil sands were not seeking radical cost transformation when they adopted autonomous haulage. They were responding to a simple constraint \u2014 not enough people.<\/p>\n
Automation ensures business continuity when labour is scarce or inconsistent. That alone will make it essential. Some mines also rely on local employment as part of their social licence to operate, which means fully removing operators isn\u2019t always the answer. In those cases, semi-autonomous or operator-assist technologies provide the right balance: keeping local jobs while still lifting efficiency and safety.<\/p>\n
The future of mining automation is not binary. It\u2019s a spectrum, and every mine will find itself somewhere on it.<\/p>\n
Operational discipline: the real value creator<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nA<\/span>utomation itself is not the magic lever\u00a0<\/span>some people<\/span>\u00a0expect. The real improvements often come from the operational discipline\u00a0<\/span>required<\/span> to support autonomous systems.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTake tire life as an example. Some operations proudly point to 10,000 hours of tire performance with autonomous haulage. Yet a mine in Indonesia achieved the same tire life a decade ago with staffed operations. The common denominator wasn\u2019t technology \u2014 it was disciplined road maintenance, TKPH (Tonne-Kilometres Per Hour) monitoring, and operator training.<\/p>\n
Autonomous trucks demand well-maintained roads. When mines adjust their practices to meet that requirement, tires last longer, productivity improves, and variability drops. It\u2019s not the truck that creates value; it\u2019s the structured, consistent way of working that autonomy forces us to adopt.<\/p>\n
Across every major autonomous deployment I\u2019ve been part of, this theme repeats itself. True operational gains come from institutionalised discipline, not simply machines running without people.<\/p>\n
Hexagon\u2019s approach: enabling automation, delivering value now<\/strong><\/h2>\nHexagon has invested heavily in the foundational elements of automation: advanced machine positioning, actuation systems, and the shift from teleoperation to semi-autonomous and fully autonomous workflows. Autonomous operation is absolutely within our capability.<\/p>\n
But what our customers tell us is equally important: they don\u2019t want automation for its own sake. They want to know the path to autonomy exists, but they also want solutions that deliver value today, improving safety, productivity, and decision-making.<\/p>\n
That is why we focus on automating the process rather than the machine. The biggest opportunities lie in streamlining workflows, reducing human dependency in specific tasks, and empowering operators with decision support.<\/p>\n
The drilling opportunity: where automation truly pays off<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture1.jpg\")
Hexagon\u2019s award-winning Drill Assist solution has helped mines see a 30% improvement in penetration rates.<\/p><\/div>\n
A powerful example is our Drill Assist<\/a> programme. Some autonomous drilling providers focus mainly on tramming between holes \u2014 a one-minute activity in a 35-minute cycle \u2014 and celebrate saving 15 seconds. But that isn\u2019t where the real value lies. The true opportunity is in the drilling process itself.<\/p>\nBy applying AI to automatically adjust input parameters in real time, we\u2019ve seen an average 30% improvement in penetration rates, depending on ground conditions. In Minnesota\u2019s Iron Range, miners have seen gains of 50%\u201360%. Suddenly that 35-minute dwell time becomes 19 minutes.<\/p>\n
This leads to meaningful, strategic questions: How many more metres can we drill? How many rigs do we actually need? That\u2019s where automation becomes transformative.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead: designing workflows for a digital mine<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs I challenge my teams, the future is not about automating a machine simply because we can. It is about designing workflows that minimise the need for human intervention altogether, while still harnessing human oversight where it adds value.<\/p>\n
Automation should enhance safety, improve repeatability, and empower mines to operate confidently in the face of labour shortages. But above all, it should create measurable value \u2014 not theoretical potential.<\/p>\n
This mindset will shape the next generation of innovation at Hexagon. As mines move steadily toward a digital, autonomous future, we will help them build not just automated machines, but integrated, intelligent workflows that redefine what \u201cgood\u201d looks like.<\/p>\n
This conversation is only just beginning. That\u2019s why we\u2019re launching Shift<\/strong>, a new monthly newsletter where we\u2019ll take you behind the scenes of the ideas, challenges and unexpected insights shaping mining\u2019s next chapter. In the first issue, I dig into a realisation that surprised even me \u2014 and why it matters more than ever for the mine of the future. If you\u2019d like to follow along, learn with me, and help spark the discussion our industry needs, I invite you to subscribe. The first edition lands on 5 January. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Dave Goddard Automation is often discussed in our industry as if it is a distant future or a nice-to-have enhancement. But from where I stand, full automation will become a non-negotiable standard for new mines within the next 20 years. The driver\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be the pursuit of massive cost reductions or dramatic throughput gains. It will<\/p>\n
Hexagon\u2019s Mining President, Dave Goddard<\/p><\/div>\n
When I look across regions that have embraced autonomy earliest, a clear pattern emerges. Western Australia and the Canadian oil sands were not seeking radical cost transformation when they adopted autonomous haulage. They were responding to a simple constraint \u2014 not enough people.<\/p>\n
Automation ensures business continuity when labour is scarce or inconsistent. That alone will make it essential. Some mines also rely on local employment as part of their social licence to operate, which means fully removing operators isn\u2019t always the answer. In those cases, semi-autonomous or operator-assist technologies provide the right balance: keeping local jobs while still lifting efficiency and safety.<\/p>\n
The future of mining automation is not binary. It\u2019s a spectrum, and every mine will find itself somewhere on it.<\/p>\n
Operational discipline: the real value creator<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nA<\/span>utomation itself is not the magic lever\u00a0<\/span>some people<\/span>\u00a0expect. The real improvements often come from the operational discipline\u00a0<\/span>required<\/span> to support autonomous systems.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTake tire life as an example. Some operations proudly point to 10,000 hours of tire performance with autonomous haulage. Yet a mine in Indonesia achieved the same tire life a decade ago with staffed operations. The common denominator wasn\u2019t technology \u2014 it was disciplined road maintenance, TKPH (Tonne-Kilometres Per Hour) monitoring, and operator training.<\/p>\n
Autonomous trucks demand well-maintained roads. When mines adjust their practices to meet that requirement, tires last longer, productivity improves, and variability drops. It\u2019s not the truck that creates value; it\u2019s the structured, consistent way of working that autonomy forces us to adopt.<\/p>\n
Across every major autonomous deployment I\u2019ve been part of, this theme repeats itself. True operational gains come from institutionalised discipline, not simply machines running without people.<\/p>\n
Hexagon\u2019s approach: enabling automation, delivering value now<\/strong><\/h2>\nHexagon has invested heavily in the foundational elements of automation: advanced machine positioning, actuation systems, and the shift from teleoperation to semi-autonomous and fully autonomous workflows. Autonomous operation is absolutely within our capability.<\/p>\n
But what our customers tell us is equally important: they don\u2019t want automation for its own sake. They want to know the path to autonomy exists, but they also want solutions that deliver value today, improving safety, productivity, and decision-making.<\/p>\n
That is why we focus on automating the process rather than the machine. The biggest opportunities lie in streamlining workflows, reducing human dependency in specific tasks, and empowering operators with decision support.<\/p>\n
The drilling opportunity: where automation truly pays off<\/strong><\/h2>\nHexagon\u2019s award-winning Drill Assist solution has helped mines see a 30% improvement in penetration rates.<\/p><\/div>\n
A powerful example is our Drill Assist<\/a> programme. Some autonomous drilling providers focus mainly on tramming between holes \u2014 a one-minute activity in a 35-minute cycle \u2014 and celebrate saving 15 seconds. But that isn\u2019t where the real value lies. The true opportunity is in the drilling process itself.<\/p>\nBy applying AI to automatically adjust input parameters in real time, we\u2019ve seen an average 30% improvement in penetration rates, depending on ground conditions. In Minnesota\u2019s Iron Range, miners have seen gains of 50%\u201360%. Suddenly that 35-minute dwell time becomes 19 minutes.<\/p>\n
This leads to meaningful, strategic questions: How many more metres can we drill? How many rigs do we actually need? That\u2019s where automation becomes transformative.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead: designing workflows for a digital mine<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs I challenge my teams, the future is not about automating a machine simply because we can. It is about designing workflows that minimise the need for human intervention altogether, while still harnessing human oversight where it adds value.<\/p>\n
Automation should enhance safety, improve repeatability, and empower mines to operate confidently in the face of labour shortages. But above all, it should create measurable value \u2014 not theoretical potential.<\/p>\n
This mindset will shape the next generation of innovation at Hexagon. As mines move steadily toward a digital, autonomous future, we will help them build not just automated machines, but integrated, intelligent workflows that redefine what \u201cgood\u201d looks like.<\/p>\n
This conversation is only just beginning. That\u2019s why we\u2019re launching Shift<\/strong>, a new monthly newsletter where we\u2019ll take you behind the scenes of the ideas, challenges and unexpected insights shaping mining\u2019s next chapter. In the first issue, I dig into a realisation that surprised even me \u2014 and why it matters more than ever for the mine of the future. If you\u2019d like to follow along, learn with me, and help spark the discussion our industry needs, I invite you to subscribe. The first edition lands on 5 January. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Dave Goddard Automation is often discussed in our industry as if it is a distant future or a nice-to-have enhancement. But from where I stand, full automation will become a non-negotiable standard for new mines within the next 20 years. The driver\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be the pursuit of massive cost reductions or dramatic throughput gains. It will<\/p>\n
Take tire life as an example. Some operations proudly point to 10,000 hours of tire performance with autonomous haulage. Yet a mine in Indonesia achieved the same tire life a decade ago with staffed operations. The common denominator wasn\u2019t technology \u2014 it was disciplined road maintenance, TKPH (Tonne-Kilometres Per Hour) monitoring, and operator training.<\/p>\n
Autonomous trucks demand well-maintained roads. When mines adjust their practices to meet that requirement, tires last longer, productivity improves, and variability drops. It\u2019s not the truck that creates value; it\u2019s the structured, consistent way of working that autonomy forces us to adopt.<\/p>\n
Across every major autonomous deployment I\u2019ve been part of, this theme repeats itself. True operational gains come from institutionalised discipline, not simply machines running without people.<\/p>\n
Hexagon\u2019s approach: enabling automation, delivering value now<\/strong><\/h2>\nHexagon has invested heavily in the foundational elements of automation: advanced machine positioning, actuation systems, and the shift from teleoperation to semi-autonomous and fully autonomous workflows. Autonomous operation is absolutely within our capability.<\/p>\n
But what our customers tell us is equally important: they don\u2019t want automation for its own sake. They want to know the path to autonomy exists, but they also want solutions that deliver value today, improving safety, productivity, and decision-making.<\/p>\n
That is why we focus on automating the process rather than the machine. The biggest opportunities lie in streamlining workflows, reducing human dependency in specific tasks, and empowering operators with decision support.<\/p>\n
The drilling opportunity: where automation truly pays off<\/strong><\/h2>\nHexagon\u2019s award-winning Drill Assist solution has helped mines see a 30% improvement in penetration rates.<\/p><\/div>\n
A powerful example is our Drill Assist<\/a> programme. Some autonomous drilling providers focus mainly on tramming between holes \u2014 a one-minute activity in a 35-minute cycle \u2014 and celebrate saving 15 seconds. But that isn\u2019t where the real value lies. The true opportunity is in the drilling process itself.<\/p>\nBy applying AI to automatically adjust input parameters in real time, we\u2019ve seen an average 30% improvement in penetration rates, depending on ground conditions. In Minnesota\u2019s Iron Range, miners have seen gains of 50%\u201360%. Suddenly that 35-minute dwell time becomes 19 minutes.<\/p>\n
This leads to meaningful, strategic questions: How many more metres can we drill? How many rigs do we actually need? That\u2019s where automation becomes transformative.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead: designing workflows for a digital mine<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs I challenge my teams, the future is not about automating a machine simply because we can. It is about designing workflows that minimise the need for human intervention altogether, while still harnessing human oversight where it adds value.<\/p>\n
Automation should enhance safety, improve repeatability, and empower mines to operate confidently in the face of labour shortages. But above all, it should create measurable value \u2014 not theoretical potential.<\/p>\n
This mindset will shape the next generation of innovation at Hexagon. As mines move steadily toward a digital, autonomous future, we will help them build not just automated machines, but integrated, intelligent workflows that redefine what \u201cgood\u201d looks like.<\/p>\n
This conversation is only just beginning. That\u2019s why we\u2019re launching Shift<\/strong>, a new monthly newsletter where we\u2019ll take you behind the scenes of the ideas, challenges and unexpected insights shaping mining\u2019s next chapter. In the first issue, I dig into a realisation that surprised even me \u2014 and why it matters more than ever for the mine of the future. If you\u2019d like to follow along, learn with me, and help spark the discussion our industry needs, I invite you to subscribe. The first edition lands on 5 January. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Dave Goddard Automation is often discussed in our industry as if it is a distant future or a nice-to-have enhancement. But from where I stand, full automation will become a non-negotiable standard for new mines within the next 20 years. The driver\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be the pursuit of massive cost reductions or dramatic throughput gains. It will<\/p>\n
Hexagon\u2019s award-winning Drill Assist solution has helped mines see a 30% improvement in penetration rates.<\/p><\/div>\n
A powerful example is our Drill Assist<\/a> programme. Some autonomous drilling providers focus mainly on tramming between holes \u2014 a one-minute activity in a 35-minute cycle \u2014 and celebrate saving 15 seconds. But that isn\u2019t where the real value lies. The true opportunity is in the drilling process itself.<\/p>\n By applying AI to automatically adjust input parameters in real time, we\u2019ve seen an average 30% improvement in penetration rates, depending on ground conditions. In Minnesota\u2019s Iron Range, miners have seen gains of 50%\u201360%. Suddenly that 35-minute dwell time becomes 19 minutes.<\/p>\n This leads to meaningful, strategic questions: How many more metres can we drill? How many rigs do we actually need? That\u2019s where automation becomes transformative.<\/p>\n As I challenge my teams, the future is not about automating a machine simply because we can. It is about designing workflows that minimise the need for human intervention altogether, while still harnessing human oversight where it adds value.<\/p>\n Automation should enhance safety, improve repeatability, and empower mines to operate confidently in the face of labour shortages. But above all, it should create measurable value \u2014 not theoretical potential.<\/p>\n This mindset will shape the next generation of innovation at Hexagon. As mines move steadily toward a digital, autonomous future, we will help them build not just automated machines, but integrated, intelligent workflows that redefine what \u201cgood\u201d looks like.<\/p>\n This conversation is only just beginning. That\u2019s why we\u2019re launching Shift<\/strong>, a new monthly newsletter where we\u2019ll take you behind the scenes of the ideas, challenges and unexpected insights shaping mining\u2019s next chapter. In the first issue, I dig into a realisation that surprised even me \u2014 and why it matters more than ever for the mine of the future. If you\u2019d like to follow along, learn with me, and help spark the discussion our industry needs, I invite you to subscribe. The first edition lands on 5 January. Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Dave Goddard Automation is often discussed in our industry as if it is a distant future or a nice-to-have enhancement. But from where I stand, full automation will become a non-negotiable standard for new mines within the next 20 years. The driver\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be the pursuit of massive cost reductions or dramatic throughput gains. It will<\/p>\nLooking ahead: designing workflows for a digital mine<\/strong><\/h2>\n