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Off-the-shelf solutions drive improvement

JOHN HEARNE
Technology is an industry differentiator

JOHN HEARNE Technology is an industry differentiator

Photo by Snowden

22nd April 2016

By: Sascha Solomons

  

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To ensure that its consulting streams maintain their competitive edge, mining industry consultant Snowden continues to provide its technology solutions as commercial off-the-shelf solutions to improve performance at mining operations.

This availability provides mining companies with access to system enhancements and improvements without having to customise, says Snowden CEO John Hearne, adding that one of the company’s strengths has always been its best-of-breed mining software and technologies division.

“Technology is a differentiator in the industry as a whole and can provide benefits and improvements – regardless of the commodities downturn,” emphasises Hearne.

He notes that the largest gift to the mining services industry right now is technology, the one new thing in a sea of “sameness”, adding that Snowden can provide benefit to those that have in-sourced capability, giving them the tools and knowledge to improve what they do.

Snowden has built on its strengths so that it can work with companies on building their successes during difficult times by developing solutions that reduce costs for customers and achieve their objectives, he adds.

By embracing flexible commercial models, Snowden can adapt to its customers’ financial situations, while still delivering outcomes.

Snowden’s Reconcilor system software built on the company’s demonstrated expertise in mining reconciliation is dedicated to delivering performance improvements to mining operations using industry best-practice principles.

“Recently, a major African mining company established an alliance with Snowden to embed Reconcilor into its mining operations. With ongoing client-driven enhancements to the system to better meet their operation’s needs, the project has now moved onto a support and maintenance agreement with smaller minor works projects created as required,” Hearne explains.

Further, he highlights that data is more easily analysed using Reconcilor. The system allows for data comparison across the mine value chain, as well as a degree of transparency across mine-site data that would not previously have been available. Therefore, problems with data can be identified early and steps can be taken to improve the quality of the data.

He asserts that, historically, mining reconciliation has been the domain of geologists or surveyors, occasionally accompanied by the mining engineer and senior management team. Currently, mine management is frequently using the reconciliation process to identify issues along the mining chain, and define and trigger appropriate remedial action.

Snowden says clients with new and existing projects continue to embrace the enhancement of their mine schedules, grades, products and stockpiling strategies to improve their investment cases. Operations have also adjusted processes to decrease waste and increase productivity by exploiting fewer resources using “innovative” software.

The company has also noted greater interest in data and analytical solutions to supply real-time data, identifying improvement opportunities and making more informed decisions.

“Snowden has responded to the evolving needs of the market by retaining a strong core of multidisciplinary expertise and actively pursuing and encouraging innovation within its ranks to maintain its position in the market,” concludes Hearne.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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