Improving Productivity in Thin-Seam Continuous Mining at Tanoma

Thin-seam mining presents unique challenges when management or economic conditions require significant productivity increases. These challenges can be further amplified depending on such factors as labor unions, federal and state regulations and market characteristics. This article explores the turnaround situation occurring at Tanoma Mining Co. (TMC), a medium-sized, underground coal mining company in central Pennsylvania. The company has used a systematic approach of improving management controls and direction, labor relations and communications to improve its cash flow from negative to positive within a projected five-year span. An intensive upgrade-rebuild-replacement program for mining equipment and systems has also been established to support other management activities. Discussion Thin-seam coal mining is an industry within the broader industry of coal mining. Thin seam mining faces the same cost pressures and engineering problems as its higher-seam competitors, without the advantages of moving volume per foot of extracted material. To stay at economic parity with others requires additional creativity within the management team to extract higher productivity gains from the existing workforce and mining systems. The Tanoma operation is a deep mine in Indiana County, PA, about one hour northeast of Pittsburgh. Coal is extracted from the Lower Kittanning "B" seam. It lies about 91 m (300 ft) below the surface and averages 0.9 m (I ft) in height. Continuous mining units using mobile bridge conveyors or shuttle cars