When we short-change blasting, we compromise the performance of the entire operation. Garrison Keillor, the humorist, used to close his weekly monologue by saying, “Where the children are all above average.” A similar belief persists in the blasting world—many managers assume they have an effective program without understanding how it compares to industry standards.

Sending team members to trainings and conferences is a valuable first step toward adopting best practices—but is it enough? The challenge is that few of us can objectively evaluate our own performance. That’s where an independent audit becomes essential.

Today’s mining operations are under pressure to move more tons per hour. Smaller crews are loading more powder than ever before. In the process of streamlining, unintended consequences often arise. While drill and blast costs might decrease, downstream departments frequently face increased costs due to suboptimal fragmentation.

Eloranta & Associates provides independent audits to assess whether best practices are being followed. We also develop benchmarks to establish a baseline of current performance. This enables objective comparisons when introducing new products or techniques. In our experience, audits and benchmarking consistently reveal opportunities for measurable improvement.

True optimization begins with a clear understanding of where you stand today. By comparing current practices with established best practices, we can chart a meaningful path toward operational goals. Benchmarking provides the reference point needed to track progress—whether moving toward or away from targets.

The value of an objective, third-party review cannot be overstated. Industry experts agree: the biggest shortcoming in surface blasting is the gap between the blast pattern “as designed” and “as built.” An independent review—paired with training focused on both the how and why of effective procedures—is the most impactful step an operation can take.

Eloranta & Associates combines deep industry experience with advanced technology to tailor audits and studies to your specific needs—helping you achieve safe, efficient, and cost-effective results.