Optimise Material Flow

On the Scheduling | Schedule tab, in the Optimise group: Click Optimise Material Flow to define a network of sources and destinations that generates or transforms material, applies constraints to locations, and routes material as required to optimise quantities into or out of destinations.

The Optimise Material Flow tool is designed to help optimise a network with stockpiles using a series of calculations based on location and quantities to find the optimal solution with the correct stockpile average grades.

Stockpile nodes are created on the Material Network Node > Stockpile tab and configured for stockpiled material and capacity. The configured capacity value represents the maximum tonnage of material that may exist on the stockpile at the end of each period.

Elements for the material flow network can be configured using the Elements grid, and a maximum and minimum grade constraint provided. If the stockpile starts with initial material, the grade of each element can be specified.

Output material bins are configured on the on the Material Network Node > Output tab to name and define the material withdrawn from the stockpile/s. Output bin contents cannot be defined for stockpiles, as stockpile output material is implicitly defined to be all the material arriving at the stockpile.

Quantities for the Objectives and Constraints determine the level of material initially residing on the stockpile – distinct from the material bin quantities that originate in schedule tasks.

Locations are set for the Objectives and Constraints to determine the material on the stockpile at specified times such as at the end the period and beginning of the next.

Set optimisation parameters on the following tabs of the Optimise Material Flow form:

• Material

• Sources and Destinations

• Planner

• Quantities

• Solver

• Output

Run

Finally, click Run to run the Material Flow Optimisation.