January 11, 2001

October 19, 2001 Minutes – Elko, Nevada Convention Center

7:00a.m. to 7:30a.m. Sign in

Dues $30.00 per person $100.00 for 4 persons or more from one site.

13 members in attendance for this meeting and 26 in attendance for the May meeting.

Bob Frayser - Newmont

Don Trowbridge - Newmont

Don Smales - Placer Dome

Marcus Samper - Placer Dome

Carlos Guzman - Placer Dome

Walter Holland - Echo Bay

Terry Taylor - Barrick

Rich Fifield - Barrick

Larry Radford - Barrick

Jack Taylor - Placer Dome

Otis Pryor - Homestake

Tony Warwood - Newmont

Mark Wakefield - Newmont

7:30a.m. to 9:00a.m. General Business – Report Outs

Don Smales / Don Trowbridge – Opening Comments, Introductions

The Co-chairman made opening comments and each member introduced themselves with name, title, and company. Mine site representatives were asked to give an update of issues facing them and generally discuss the status of projects. The Co-Chairman reviewed the layout of the meeting and discussed the things that would be coming out of the meeting, and what each of us should be able to take back to our sites.

Bob Frayser – NMMA Financial update

Bob gave a summary presentation of cash inflows of $1,480.00 and cash outflows of $87.79 for and ending balance of $3,065.59 for the association.

Charles Westover – Status of WRMMA as a non-profit organization

Charles was unable to attend. However, reported to the Secretary that the documents are filed with the state and completion is expected by the end of November. The official registered name of the organization is Western Region Master Mechanics Association.

Bob Frayser – Update on proposed NMMA Web Site and laptop purchase

The website is now live and available for the general public and all corners of the world where the Internet reaches - the address is www.master-mechanics.org. User names and passwords will be distributed the week of 10/22/01.

The Treasurer reports show that WRMMA now has enough monies donated to purchase a new laptop for the organization. A total of $900 has been donated. $200 donation from Newmont, $400 donation from Placer Dome Cortez, $200 donation from Placer Dome Bald Mountain, and $100 donation from Echo Bay. Thank you.

Bob Frayser – Review of Last meeting 3Ws

See the updated 3 W Form below.

9:00a.m. to 9:15a.m. Break

9:15a.m. to 11:30a.m. Sharing Best Practices

Harold Gudmundsen Newmont Twin Creeks Mine

Highly efficient PM methods for haul trucks

Harold Gudmundsen was not able to attend and Tony Warwood presented the topic in his place. Please see the presentation on the website at http://www.master-mechanics.org/

Terry Taylor Barrick Goldstrike

Methods to Implement Continuous Improvement

A presentation was given by Larry Radford and Terry Taylor. 3W - BOB F WILL UPLOAD PRESENTION TO THE WRMMA WEB SITE. Please see the website for this presentation http://www.master-mechanics.org/. A process that Barrick found to be inefficient was changing cutting edges on dozers. Barrick typically hauled the dozers in for this maintenance and now do this maintenance in the field. Placer dome uses slings and rings on the hardnose and push arms to eliminate the need for gathering and hauling of stands for changing edges out in the field. 3W - Don Smales to provide digital picture(s) of this design to Bob F. for publication on the web in the best practices area.

Lynn Nelson Guest Speaker WMEA -Canceled

Terry Taylor from Barrick who is a WMEA member did talk about WMEA in his place.

Over view of the WMEA organization and their activities

Terry discussed the makeup of WMEA. WMEA Western Mining Electrical Association. The WEMA website address is http://www.wmea.net/ . The group started out concentrating on draglines, but is now working with issues related to shovels. The are working with DCS and modifying the field control of electric shovel motors. P&H is not supporting this modification at this point in time. Barrick has installed the new Slick 506 PLC upgrade, but modified the ladder logic of the PLC to change the voltage / current of the fields on electric shovel motors. November 14 & 15 WMEA will host a meeting in Tucson. WMEA will have a meeting in Reno next year in May and opened invitation for WRMMA members to attend. Will discuss electrical distribution, shovel cable. Etc. 3W - BOB TO GO TO WMEA WEBSITE AND CUT AND PASTE MEETING INFO TO WRMMA WEBSITE

Large Tire Users Group

Over view of the LTUG organization and their activities - Jack Barton

Recognizing that there is strength in numbers members of the Large Tire User Group continually reap the benefits of a collective effort. This group is focusing on creating a multi-company large tire database, developing common procedures for rim maintenance and handling tire related emergencies such as fires and electrical contact, and working with tire manufacturers in developing "intelligent tire" technology. Already the group's efforts have resulted in the development of a large tire safety valve that is both heat and pressure activated. The Large Tire Users Group - LTUG - is a branch organization of SMART, which is the Surface Mining Association for Research and Technology. This is a group of companies that have a common need to reduce costs. Energy, diamonds, coal, oil, and iron mining is represented. The guest speaker works for Syncrude, which produces 12% of Canada's oil needs. This is being increased to 20% of Canada's oil needs. This represents approximately 280 million barrels per day. This will be increased to 500 million barrels per day. Syncrude operations mine approximately 1 million tons per day and this is being increase as well to 2.5 million tons per day. The Large Tire User Group is dedicated to research and development of large tires to support mining. The trucks range in size up to 380 ton capacity trucks. They have two meetings per year spring and fall. They have some members that do not attend the meetings, but participate via e-mail. They are working with the manufacturers to develop better tires utilizing lower air pressures. A member asked about developments with the "smart" tires. LTUG reports that there is not much there. They have a ball transmitter that goes inside the tire and rolls with the rotation of the tire. This transmitter conveys data about temperature and pressure. The 380 ton trucks use 59" tires at Syncrude. SMART has a website that LTUG is tied to and the address is http://www.smartmines.com Jack Barton's email is barton.jack@syncrude.com. 3W - BOB F Jack Barton will email data and send a CD to Bob Frayser to post up to the WRMMA website. SMART is an association of surface mining companies who joined together in 1995 to develop a coordinated approach to meeting the needs of the industry. Collectively, our members have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be used effectively to direct research programs and influence manufacturers and suppliers in meeting the needs of our industry.

I invite you to join other industry leaders who recognize the value of collaboration as a means of achieving tremendous results. Becoming a member of SMART gives you the opportunity to participate in research activities suited to your organization, take part in workshops that offer real-life solutions and share information with other companies. This is a unique opportunity - SMART is the only group that focuses on operating concerns for open pit mines of Canada and North America.

We know that there is strength in numbers. In fact, we recognize that the greater our membership, the greater our power for collaboration.

11:30a.m. to 12:00p.m. Nevada Mining Association updates

Tim Baker General Manger – Getchell – Placer Dome

Unable to attend at the last minute - NMA Web site http://www.nevadamining.org will give you the latest info

12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m. Lunch break

1:00p.m. to 2:30p.m. Sharing Best Practices

Report outs last meetings topics

Danny Manning Using Corn Husks for oil spills - NOT IN ATTENDANCE

Charles Westover Fuel Sample Spreadsheets - NOT IN ATTENDANCE

Otis Pryor 16G Transmission Life

Most failures that Otis received information on were random and inconsistent. However, most of the failures were related to park brake failures. The data indicates that each site has a typical mode of failure that is consistent within that site. He states that most of the failures are operation related. Some failures are related to parts that were reused and not replaced at rebuild and some failures are related to rebuild mistakes. Otis points out that the park brake is not difficult to repair, but getting to the park brake is labor intensive. He also points out that you should not set the assembly on the bolts or the park brake end, but to set it on the housing end. The risk of moving the splined assembly out of position and loosing a brake disc off from the splines is greatest when you don't place the assembly on the housing end. Some park brake failures occur due to the operator engaging the park brake before the machine has come to a complete stop and some failures are because of low air pressure and the associated results. An air system on blades are subject to the same contaminants as any other equipment and requires periodic maintenance to insure the air system functions as designed. Some differential lock failures were reported and is typically caused by hard turns on dry and hard ground surfaces. If you are having number 8 clutch failures, then this indicates that the blade is running with the park brake partially applied. Cable adjustment problems show up as number one and number two clutch failures. These two clutches are used in the shifting from forward to reverse and vice versa. Number 5 clutch failures indicates that the blade is working pretty hard.

2:30p.m. to 2:50p.m. Break

2:50p.m. to 3:30p.m. General Meeting Review

What worked? What didn’t work? Suggested changes of formats, dates, locations, frequency, newsletter, etc. Selection of vendor for company/equipment updates.

3:30p.m. to 4:30p.m. Action Planning

Topic selection process for next WRMMA meeting study groups.

3W review. 3W - Jack Taylor to investigate exhaust bolt / manifold failures and do a report out at the next meeting. Newmont is currently working with Cashman and Cat on this same issue. Jack Taylor to also report out on the intake bolt problems as well. 3W - Carlos Guzman to gather hoist rope information in our industry and present at the next meeting. The Co-chairman asked the membership if our past year under a new format provided a value great enough to continue the association. The consensus was this is of value and recommended continuing. A member asked if it made sense to combine a meeting with the South West Association of Master Mechanics? It was noted and the Co-chairman commented that the officers of the WRMMA, WRUMMA, and the NSA met and discussed different options for a joint meeting in Salt Lake City after the Olympics. The Co-chairman committed to take this issue to the officers again and discuss in more detail.

Next Meeting discussion - the NSA suggested the last week in January in Winnemucca the membership agreed. Suggested topic and guest speakers - QUADREM, NMA, Productivity and Shovel productivity monitors, Hoist Ropes, Cat 3500 Series exhaust and intake bolt issues. Reschedule Danny Manning's Corn Husk Presentation, and Charles Westover's Fuel Sample presentation to the next meeting.

4:30p.m. Adjourn

3W Action Item Form

Item	What	Who	When	Comment
1	Publish & Distribute Meeting Minutes & Files	Bob Frayser	5/23/01 DONE	E-mail and US Post to those without e-mail
2	Submit at least 2 near misses to Bob F.	Each designated site contact	Dec 1	Bob F. will supply a form with the minutes.
3	Ground Cornhusks substitute for floor dry	Danny Manning	Jan Meeting	Provide details, costs, availability, sources, etc
4	Legal filings for Association	Charles Westover / Bob Frayser	6/30/01 DONE	Complete and file all documents and forms for legal non-profit organization status.
5	16G Grader Transmission	Otis Pryor (contact Andy Manzini to reach Otis)	Oct Meeting DONE	Research information on average life, cost/hour, issues, oil sample analysis, failure analysis, oil type, service interval, and highest incidence of failures list, etc.
6	Arrange for meeting place - will need three rooms for breakouts	Terry Taylor (Barrick)	Before Oct Meeting DONE	Reserve rooms arrange necessary equipment, flipcharts, etc.
7	Bring a guest to the next meeting	Each Member	Jan 02 Meeting	Invite a guest to attend the next meeting
8	Submit mission statement to Bob F	Each Member	6/10/01 NONE	Winning Selection will receive $50
9	Fuel sample spreadsheet	Charles Westover	Jan 02 Meeting	Agenda Item - bring to the next meeting and present
10	Upload all presentations to the WRMMA Website	Bob Frayser	Oct Monthly Update data load	Upload to website or send to Web Master NEW
11	Give copy of presentations to Bob F	All Presenters	Oct. 31	Via email, CD, or floppy NEW
12	Provide digital pictures of Dozer / GET best practice	Don Smales	Oct. 31	Send to Bob F via email NEW
13	Activate link to WEMA on the WRMMA Website	Bob Frayser	Oct. 31 DONE	Cut & Paste WEMA Meeting Info on WRMMA website NEW
14	Distribute Usernames & Passwords to Members	Bob Frayser	Oct. 31	Distribute via email to each member individual username and password for the WRMMA Website Members area NEW
15	Contact Web Master to explore Discussion Board posted message - email blast to contacts	Bob Frayser	Oct. 31	Implement if feasible NEW
16	Create end of year newsletter	Don Trowbridge	Dec. 1	Provide to Bob Frayser for upload to website NEW
17	Upload newsletter to website	Bob Frayser	Dec. 7	Upload new and archive old newsletter NEW
18	Prepare agenda and distribute for January Meeting	Don Trowbridge / Don Smales	Dec. 15	Provide to Bob Frayser for upload to website NEW
19	Upload January Agenda to website	Bob Frayser	Dec. 15	Upload new and archive old agendas NEW
20	Bob F to upload 16G chain case teflon best practice information	Bob Frayser	Oct.31	Upload to the WRMMA Website in the Best Practices area NEW
21	Report findings of research done on intake and exhaust bolt failures for 3500 cat engines	Jack Taylor	Next Meeting Jan 02	Agenda item for next meeting. Jack to report out to the membership NEW
22	Gather and present hoist rope information for our industry	Carlos Guzman	Next Meeting Jan 02	Agenda item for the next meeting. Carlos to report out to the membership NEW
23	Develop a Salt Lake City Meeting with WRUMMA and NSA, SWAMM, RMMMA	All Officers of NSA, WRMMA, WRUMMA	Next Meeting Jan 02	Coordinate and develop