A new approach to managing equipment and operations is taking shape, bringing teams together in a central location to improve efficiency, boost coordination and support real-time decision-making.

Called the Integrated Remote Operations Center (IROC), the facility will bring together functions that can be performed virtually when it opens this summer. IROC is an important component
of Freeport’s commitment to Reinvent Mining by maximizing efficiency, innovation and new technologies to eventually cut North America mining costs in half.

“We’re excited about what this means for our operations,” said Bert Odinet, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer. “When fully operational, the IROC will bring together specialists from various areas of production, so they can solve potential problems in real time.”

Centralizing certain jobs will standardize best practices, increase collaboration, improve peer-to- peer learning and allow personnel to be more effectively allocated to help ensure all locations are adequately covered. It also will help address ongoing challenges some sites have with hiring and retaining workers.

“Moving those jobs to Phoenix from areas where housing is often limited will expand the available talent pool for recruitment,” Odinet said.

Initially, the jobs being moved to Freeport’s Zone in east Phoenix will include North American Remote Asset Monitoring Process (RAMP) technicians, as well as fragmentation engineers from Morenci.

Additional IROC positions will be evaluated after one year. The long-term goal is for IROC to serve as the command hub for functions that do not require a physical presence at a mine site but rather can be done just as effectively from a remote location using computer technology brought together in the IROC.

Throughout this process, the company is committed to helping ensure no employee loses their job as a result of the IROC consolidation. Employees who choose to follow a job being moved to Phoenix will receive support during the transition. Those who prefer not to relocate can work with site HR to receive priority consideration for other qualified roles.

“This implementation will help break down silos and promote a better understanding of how each group fits into the bigger picture of the site,” Odinet said.