Phosa

Phosa: AI in Mining and Process Industries

Phosa, our proprietary operating system for AI in mining and AI in process industries, provides real-time improvements for all stages of a continuous-process operation—delivering higher values and improving decision making.

Excavating data from mining operations is just as important as excavating ore. But in mining and other continuous-process industries, it’s hard to construct data models that can pinpoint exactly where changing operational controls could improve performance. Analytics alone aren’t enough. You need to account for the multiple variables and underlying physics involved in a given process.

Phosa, the proprietary “human in the loop” AI solution from BCG GAMMA, provides real-time recommendations for changes that yield higher values at any stage of a continuous-process operation.


How the Phosa Methodology Works

Just as miners use headlamps to light their way, Phosa helps clients in continuous-process industries—such as metals and mining, oil and gas, chemicals, and agribusiness—uncover opportunities hidden in existing processes. Our industry-agnostic AI applications go beyond black-box solutions by combining domain expertise with analytics, proprietary trade secrets, and code libraries to create transformational changes to frontline operations and advance their digital transformation.

Phosa recommendations can be integrated into multiple client systems, including control systems, existing diagnostic displays, or custom dashboards. In addition, recommendations can be fully automated in process control systems, entered into the systems manually by client operators, or integrated into the systems but applied only when an operator reviews and approves them.


The Benefits of Partnering AI and Mining

Our clients can use Phosa to progress through the five stages of AI for continuous-process industries. But even more critically, our AI in mining solution can be used to improve decisions at any level:

  • Operational. To improve short-term conditions for specific equipment, teams, or processes, or to coordinate structured processes according to shared KPIs. Examples of operational applications include optimizing haul dispatch or responding to unplanned downtime.
  • Tactical. To maximize midterm asset performance by aligning the organization to common objectives and evaluating tradeoffs across the value chain. Examples of tactical applications include making decisions about mine pit development or when to schedule major maintenance.
  • Strategic. To maximize the lifetime value of assets and inform long-term and life-of-mine planning. Examples of strategic applications of AI in mining include turnaround scoping and scheduling.

Our Clients’ Success on AI in Mining and Process Industries

Existing clients have paired AI and mining or other process industries to realize hundreds of millions of dollars in value by optimizing multiple operating setpoints in response to changing raw material and environmental factors. Examples of our work include:

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How AI in Mining Is Revolutionizing Teck Resources Limited

BCG’s work with the mining company not only improved operational efficiency but also minimized the company’s impact on the environment.

Meet Our Experts on AI in Process Industries

Our Phosa experts use their deep domain expertise and knowledge of end-to-end processes to develop and validate machine-learning methods, and then help clients operate and continue to refine.


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Phosa: AI in Mining and Process Industries

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