CASE STUDY
Business readiness: A pivotal strategy in extending mine life
Client: Gold miner
Location: Northern Territory
Duration: Five Months
Context
Our client was preparing to expand operations and extend the life of its gold mine. To support this, the business planned to install and commission a major new vertical shaft for its underground operations. This included a concrete-lined hoisting shaft, headframe, winder assets, additional ventilation, and supporting underground crushing and materials handling systems.
This was a significant investment and a complex project, where failure was not an option because it would have had a profound impact on the asset owner. With so many moving parts, the client needed more than just technical readiness. The business wanted confidence that its people, processes, and systems were fully prepared to execute. To be sure, the client brought in Minset to assess the overall business readiness before the real pressure began.
Approach
The Minset team segmented the project into four phases: preparation activities, information gathering and consultation, analysis and preparation of the plan and schedules, and progress management. The team:
- Held a kick-off meeting to confirm key project participants, materials, reporting requirements, timeframes, and work program.
- Collaborated closely with more than 35 stakeholders across eight teams, including site and head office teams, and functions such as operations, technical services, asset management and human resources.
- Facilitated online and on-site workshops to clarify planning and sub-planning readiness requirements, align perspectives, challenge assumptions, and capture diverse viewpoints.
- Analysed and updated existing documents, addressed content and process gaps, and consolidated everything into a comprehensive business readiness plan, including sub-plans, a task register, and a detailed schedule.
- Conducted a risk management assessment to identify issues that could impact project delivery.
- Worked with all teams to review and finalise documentation and prepare the organisation for implementation.
- Used a structured reporting process throughout the project to keep the client informed and the project on track.
Results
People
- Engaged more than 35 stakeholders through nine targeted and productive workshops, held on-site and online, to align diverse teams and their requirements
Process
- Applied robust systems to identify and mitigate key risks and hazards that may have caused production delays
Physical
- Delivered a comprehensive business readiness plan, including 10 area sub-plans, a readiness task register, and a detailed schedule
- Identified more than 200 readiness actions and 35 related observations to set the project up for success
- Identified 42 new risks and included them in the updated business readiness plan
- Provided a progress tracking and management guideline to support the effective use of the plan
