
Case study · Mining & Metals
Copper-zinc miner raises equipment availability 66% with a 14:1 return
A Canadian mid-tier miner needed to lower cost per tonne at its copper-zinc asset in the Horn of Africa. USC upgraded work order management and built front-line supervisors.
Results
66%
increase in equipment availability
14:1
return on investment
40%
improvement in mean time to repair
Throughput rose 6%.
The situation
The site needed more reliable plant and mobile equipment and a stronger supply chain to bring cost per tonne down.
How the work was done
Work orders: upgrade the system
Built a new game plan to close gaps and upgraded work order management.
40%
improvement in mean time to repair
Integration: bring support together
Integrated safety, process engineering and supply chain improvements.
Supervisors: build capability
Built front-line supervisor capabilities to sustain the new routines.
66%
increase in equipment availability
Lasting impact
Reliability gains flowed through to a lower cost per tonne.
Related case studies
Mining & Metals
South American gold mine realizes $1.2M+ a year with employee-led improvement
$1.2M+in annual savings realized
Read the case study →Mining & Metals
Specialty alloy maker adds $1.7M to gross margin and lifts equipment effectiveness 11%
$1.7Madded to gross margin
Read the case study →Mining & Metals
Steel mill delivers $35M in improvements with a new casting strategy
$35Min implemented improvements
Read the case study →