CASE-BASED REASONING - A CATALYST FOR IMPROVEMENT

Although expert-systems technology has been used in a number of mining applications, it is considered that the benefits of building small ex pert systems are often out-weighed by the overheads associated with ma intenance and support. A new computer software technology known as cas e-based reasoning (CBR) promises to deliver small decision-support sys tems that are economically viable. This is because the knowledge that they contain can be controlled and maintained by their users. A case-b ased reasoning tool has been used in a pilot study with Anglesey Alumi nium Metal, Ltd. The results are encouraging and suggest that a combin ation of case-based reasoning and participatory design and implementat ion techniques can deliver sustainable improvement to mineral processi ng operations. Traditional, rule-based expert systems are often an ine ffective way of implementing decision-support facilities. An explanati on of why this should be so is given and it is shown that case-based r easoning may provide an 'appropriate technology' solution. Experience of providing advanced information systems for mining companies within the RTZ Group is drawn on to indicate how sustainable benefit may be a chieved, and the pilot study with Anglesey Aluminium Metal is used as a practical illustration of the development of a CBR application. Fina lly, potential application areas are reviewed and some observations ar e made concerning the implementation process. References have been cho sen for their accessibility to readers with little or no experience of artificial intelligence.