Buenavista del Zinc invests in its future with Metso Academy training

Buenavista del Zinc, located in Cananea, Mexico, is Grupo Mexico’s latest venture. This zinc mine is an integral part of the Buenavista del Cobre complex, which ranks amongst the world’s top five mines and is Mexico’s largest copper producer.

As the plant prepared for production, it faced a critical challenge common in today’s operations, which is training new crew to operate efficiently, safely and sustainably. It was during the commissioning phase when the site engaged with Metso Academy to develop a comprehensive training package tailored to their specific equipment and services.

Amidst logistical challenges, language barriers, trainer availability and material preparation, another obstacle emerged: delivering the training sessions whilst simultaneously launching plant operations.

Metso Academy’s response? Challenge accepted.

The package included training for nine technologies with eight different trainers from around the world. Catering to Buenavista’s crew availability and maintaining daily communication with the customer were key priorities throughout the training duration. By fostering these qualities and leveraging decades of expertise, Metso Academy ensures that mining operations run efficiently and safely, so operations are getting the most out of their production.

“The greatest benefit granted in training to operation and maintenance personnel is that they know the equipment, the new technology and the improvements in its operation,” says Armando Galaviz, Sub Director of Engineering and Construction Projects, Grupo Mexico. “Metso Academy demonstrated that they had this knowledge, and it was of great value to us.”

What is Metso Academy?

Comprising of a global team of technical training developers and instructors with specific knowledge and expertise, Metso Academy is equipped to provide customized training packages to suit site requirements. The instructors are subject matter experts in their respective fields, and deliver high-quality training to operations worldwide. Courses are tailored to the specific machines and processes used by each customer, ensuring that training is both relevant and effective.

“Training operation and maintenance personnel is of utmost importance, since they will be the end users,” says Galaviz. “Achieving a successful completion of the electromechanical assembly with specialist technicians means giving the staff confidence in the use, operation and maintenance of new equipment. In the long run, this is what will keep the plant running at full capacity.”

By instilling a culture of safety and continuous learning, using Metso Academy inevitably leads to higher employee satisfaction and engagement – a win for both the site’s production and personnel.

Beyond the basics: Global efforts in coordinating competency

As this was a new plant, training was to be delivered for all installed equipment. Due to the scale of the training package and being the first of its kind in this location, navigating this complex endeavor required close coordination among various teams within Metso, including the CAPEX team, service department, technical training experts and more.

In April 2023, Yolanda Saenz, Technical Training Specialist was contacted by the customer to propose the necessary training. Sessions began in June 2023 and spanned six months, continuously running until December.

Both theoretical and practical training on the maintenance and operation of various technologies was provided, including horizontal grinding mills, Courier, PSI, filters, HIGmills, flotation cells, crushers, feeders and mill reline machines. The training package covered 9 technologies through 25 group sessions, totaling 480 training hours. Utilizing 8 Metso Academy trainers from around the world, it catered to 464 attendees, comprising of both new hires and experienced employees.

Training package details

The theoretical training involved classroom-based courses covering basic operation principles, operator interfaces, safe use of Metso equipment and after-sales support.

The practical training connected classroom information with hands-on experience, providing operators with the skills to run, maintain and troubleshoot their Metso equipment. This included demonstrations, simulations and machine-side training.

The trainings were designed to build their competence in Metso products and provide in-depth information on their designated equipment. It also offered insights into process optimization, service procedures and tips for transitioning from reactive to proactive maintenance.

“More sites are now becoming aware that Metso Academy exists within Metso, with a purpose to train customers and their crew,” says Omar Chavez, Manager, Technical Training, North and Central Americas at Metso. “And logistically, with all the trainers and training materials coming from different parts of the world—that’s something we really appreciate in Mexico. We feel valued when someone from another part of the world comes to us to teach us something new.”

Trusted partner - both on and off site

The pre-established presence of Metso and its legacy equipment on the site highlights Metso’s reputation as a reliable and trusted partner within the industry, further demonstrating proven expertise.

Recognizing the importance and impact of the training package, the North and Central America's Technical Training Team assigned Yolanda Saenz to oversee on-site training sessions in person. Amongst a variety of responsibilities, Yolanda ensured smooth delivery of training materials, training kits, facilitator access to the sites and more, promptly addressing any additional requests from the customer.

Throughout the six months of training, communication with the customer was maintained on a daily basis. From quick questions to travel logistics and site passes, Yolanda and the team focused on ensuring everything ran smoothly, as the common goal was to deliver high-quality training within the timeframe.

“Our biggest advantage was having Yolanda on-site, and her ability to help the customer immediately whenever they had a request,” says Chavez. “If they needed to confirm something or a deadline was approaching, there was a Metso Academy representative able to answer right away. That was a game changer for both sides.”

Ensuring high quality training amidst challenges

Due to the complexity and scale of the training required, Metso Academy went above and beyond their usual scope. The wide range of technologies required multiple trainers, each specializing in different areas and hailing from various regions. All materials were provided to trainees in their local Spanish language. Trainers from Metso’s global network flew to Mexico, and coordinating their availability with the customer’s schedule proved to be a logistical hurdle. With the training sessions running parallel with the plant’s start-up operations, deadlines were already tight.

“As the Sub Director of Engineering and Construction Projects, this training was extremely valuable,” says Galaviz. “It is part of our continuous improvement to comply with the ISO 9001 Standard: 2015, and it guarantees that the training phase has been completed 100% for us, ensuring our operation and maintenance personnel are fully prepared.”