Precious Metals Mining Operation
The world mining industry is beginning to boom once again on the back of stabilizing world demand for precious metals and the resulting high prices. With demand for precious metals buoyant, mining executives cannot afford to rest on their laurels. The rising cost of raw materials, the shortage of skilled workers and the increased cost and reduced availability of equipments serve to emphasize the need for mining companies to do more with what they have, looking to address inefficiencies in their current operations rather than focus solely on solutions that require significant capital investment.
We help our clients correct inefficient mining processes and outdated management practices in the most cost effective way to help companies operate in the present as well as prepare for the future.
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Our Results
Our precious metals clients have ranged from small underground mines in central Canada to massive operations in Peru and South Africa.
Although the scope for improvement varies between mines, most clients see very significant throughput increases, improved equipment availability, and reduced direct costs per ton. Mining clients typically show returns of over 3:1 on their investment.
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Increased equipment availability by 24% at a Brazilian gold mine contributing to an overall improvement of 14% in plant throughput |
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Better process maintenance led to a 20% improvement in the mill and leach areas of a US gold operation |
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A South American gold operation improved the productivity of its ore trucks by 12% and of the shovels and loaders by nearly 8% |
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| Resource Productivity: |
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Reduced lost blasts by over 50% at an underground South African gold mine |
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Increased face advance by 23% at major gold mine |
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A Peruvian gold operation increased meters drilled per hour by over 8% |
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Improved manpower productivity by 5 to 10% and decreased meeting time by 30% at a platinum refinery |
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Reduced overtime by 70% at a Brazilian mine |
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| Materials: |
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Reduced steel ball consumption by 45% and reduced cyanide usage between 11 and 29% |
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Reduced kwh/tone by 6% at a gold mine and cut tire consumption by 46% |
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A South African Platinum producer drastically reduced down time by achieving 100% on time delivery of explosives, fuel, oil and materials |
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Testimonials
Proudfoot’s approach will have lasting value. As a result of their training, our people continue to be positive with regard to change and to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and to reduce costs. Their people conducted themselves professionally and focused on the targets agreed.
Manager of Milling, Newmont Gold Company
In the seven months they were with us we succeeded in improving the methodologies, systems and controls and most importantly in changing the attitudes and behaviours of our personnel at all levels. The workforce is now focused and the margins are now very positive, having reduced the cost of production from US$355 per ounce to an average of US$210. Additionally production has almost doubled.
Mine Manager, Lonrho Mining Zimbabwe
I have used Proudfoot in two different companies where I was the CEO of Rand Refineries Limited and East Rand Gold and Uranium Company Ltd. Both projects were a great success. The Proudfoot methodology really encapsulates all the key elements of good business sense and management techniques into an efficient single process.
Managing Director, The Rand Refinery
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Case Studies
$51 million in cost benefits from improved throughput, productivity and process variance Read more >>
Proudfoot helps platinum refinery focus on 'people' and 'process' Read more >>
Reshaping a corporate culture generates $23.5 million in savings Read more >>
Gold and copper mine boosts production by 48% Read more >>