In a technologically oriented industry, it is important to understand and apply technology very consciously to
create competitive advantage. Technology is not an activity which is simply restricted to CSIRO or the research and technology department.
Technology improvement is a part of everyone's role. It is a way of life - the technology facet of continuous
improvement. For this reason, The AusIMM has organised this Travelling Technology Forum - a series of presentations about
automation in mining. To make the message more accessible, The AusIMM had originally planned to take the
Forum to four regional mining centres: Mackay/Townsville, Singleton, Burnie and Kalgoorlie, but only one
seminar was held, ie at Singleton in March 1997. Seminars at other locations were cancelled because of
insufficient registrants. The presentation by Andrew Logan of BHP Cannington was not available for the
Singleton forum. The aims of the forum were: to heighten awareness of the key technologies and their impact in the minerals industry in the medium term;
to foster creative thinking; to encourage people to broaden their technical and commercial skills and develop individual networks and
linkages based on an interest in these key technologies; to share information on the application of these technologies in the industry; to promote an enhanced appreciation of the need for an innovative culture; and
to encourage staff to consider post graduate courses in technology management. The AusIMM wanted to not only raise awareness about `automation in mining' issues, but also to get
technology in a more general sense back onto `centre stage'. The Forum was generously supported by CSIRO, Western Mining Corporation Ltd, BHP Coal Ltd, Aberfoyle
Limited, Goldfields Ltd, Novacoal Australia Pty Ltd, Pasminco Ltd, and RGC Limited. The program was
endorsed by the Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE). Copies of the full papers are available from the authors, see `References'.