Four Areas Critical to Mining Companies' Success

Consulting firm to offer keys to operational and financial improvement across the mining supply chain at MINExpo '08.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 14, 2008 -- Mining company management teams have four critical areas of opportunity for improving operational and financial performance, according to David Riggs, partner and mining practice leader at USC Consulting Group (USCCG).
   The four areas include:
o   Asset performance management including capital, IT, and human resource asset categories;
o   Capacity and resource planning for profit optimization;
o   Adoption of world-class maintenance management standards and practices; and
o   Revitalization and modernization of old or marginal mine sites.
Mr. Riggs and his USCCG team of experts will be available to discuss these important keys to success, as well as opportunities across the entire mining supply chain, at MINExpo '08, September 22 -24 in Las Vegas, NV.

Drawing on over 40 years' experience working underground and in the open pit, USCCG has helped such mining concerns as Anglo Gold, Agrium, Barrick Gold, Cleveland Cliffs, INCO, and North American Palladium reap substantial financial and operational rewards by unlocking value hidden in their supply chains.

"There's really no magic formula when it comes to mining," Mr. Riggs says. "You simply have to get as much ore out of the ground as possible at the lowest cost. The only thing that's changed is how it's done. We now have optimization methods and technology at our disposal that can improve nearly every aspect of a mining operation."

Mr. Riggs believes many mining companies simply aren't digging deeply enough into their operations to realize the benefits that can enhance their bottom lines. He plans to emphasize this point in Las Vegas by distributing uniquely numbered keys to mining executives who visit USCCG's booth, #1963, at the event and complete a one-question survey on what they believe to be the keys to improving their own companies' operational and financial performance.

"Knowing how to unlock the value hidden in almost every company's mine, mill, refinery, smelter, or assay lab," he explains, "is at the heart of any successful improvement effort."

One key will be randomly drawn on Wednesday at the close of the exposition and the winner, awarded a free performance audit conservatively valued at more than $10,000 U.S. for his company. The winner will be notified at the e-mail address included in the survey. Results will be tabulated and shared will all respondents in USCCG's quarterly newsletter Metrics, available on the company's web site, www.usccg.com, where rules for the promotion are also posted.

About USC Consulting Group (USCCG): USCCG is an independent operations management consulting firm with nearly 40 years' experience in the area of business performance improvement. It combines extensive subject matter expertise with enabling technology to drive and sustain superior operational and financial results. The firm offers an array of services that include Six Sigma, Lean transformation, supply chain optimization, process improvement, project management, value stream mapping, training and facilitation, blended learning solutions, modeling and simulation, world class maintenance management, and asset performance management. USCCG is a Microsoft Managed partner headquartered in Tampa, FL. It also has offices in Chicago, Montreal, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.usccg.com

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