#Drill_Blast Mining Decisions vs Mining Efficiency. These two phrases define and differentiate teams. What do I want, and what is needed? Two very important phrases in mining. "What I want" is not economically appropriate, even if it is often technically acceptable. "What is needed" must have the optimal technical and economic answer in any decision that begins with it. Should a graduate engineer start with drill and blast engineering before operations （Load and Haul) to become a better mining operations manager? When you make daily decisions considering cost during your meetings, have you taken into account the opinion of the drill and blast section? When they make design changes to please or correct certain shortcomings, do they take into account the opinion of the drill and blast section? Any change related to the initial pit design must involve all stakeholders, primarily Geotech and Drill and Blast if it is the hard rock that requires blasting. Don't be one of those engineers who use software to draw nice diagrams and Excel files to calculate figures in attractive tables just to please the corporation with figures that have no scientific or technical basis in terms of safety, economics, and technology, of course. There are mines where drilling and blasting engineers are seen as defensive when it comes to making decisions they think are inappropriate, wasteful, or technically risky. Do what you think is right based on mathematical and scientific reasoning and make your suggestions even if you know you will be dismissed because you accepted this offer, so no matter how rough the seas are, you must continue to paddle to prevent the mine from sinking. It is better to come back and say that this individual was right than to have nothing to offer when it was needed. We know that often, under certain toxic management styles, priority is given to transported BCM and concern for its clean and economical extraction because the only goal is to present figures, but the reality is there in the way of drilling and blasting. Or often, ill-advised decisions are made to vibrate this area because the production team wants it, or because the bucket teeth require it, or because some people refuse to use the dozer ripper. We prefer to use consumables and drilling equipment at the expense of loading equipment, even though in a hard rock project, drilling equipment is more crucial. I'm not saying that loading and transport equipment isn't important, but when the KPIs for drilling and blasting are more crucial than the KPIs for transport and loading equipment （to be developed). A drill machine shutdown would result in a blast area shutdown, but a drill machine shutdown would not necessarily result in a shovel shutdown. Blasting can be done in advance of loading, but loading cannot be done in advance of blasting. Don't just think about drill and blast when the cost ratio of drilling and blasting is high, but before it is. A true Drill and Blast Engineer always maintain these plans over time in a safe and cost-effective manner that could affect the value chain. These decisions, which are made without involving the drilling and blasting engineers, should no longer be blamed on them, especially when the cost ratio becomes very significant, but the blame should be placed on those who made these costs. When the client's technical department is weak, it benefits contractors. To make this department strong, you need to maximize the questions: What is needed, not what I want. It ain't be mined if it isn't value.