MEC, Author at MEC - Page 20 of 31

Contracting and variations

UncategorizedNovember 8, 2017

Many years ago, when I was a young engineer working for a contract mining company at a large surface mine, a good friend (working for the client at the same operation) lamented the way contractors issue variations. From memory, I think he wanted to borrow a dozer for a few hours, and the contract didn’t provide for wet (operator included) hire.

From the Bowen Basin to the Asian/Arctic Rims of Russia

EventNovember 8, 2017

Join the MEC team for a relaxed networking event where we will share our story on strategically optimising the extraction of a steeply dipping coking coal deposit in chilly Russia! Not only will we dig deep into the technical rigour of Lerchs Grossman, we will also provide our personal insights into; both the cultural and environmental challenges we faced working on the other side of the planet.

Post Doze Licence – Expression of Interest

BlogNovember 7, 2017

Post Doze is a method of improving the economics of waste material movement by extending the use of dozers. The Post Doze method was developed jointly by 3D Data Guidance and MEC and is protected by an PCT Patent Application number: PCT/AU2017/050915. The Post Doze method is applicable to strip mines and bulk earthmoving applications where waste is moved less than 200m horizontally. In Post Doze, a 100 -200 tonne excavator is used to elevate and translate waste towards the low wall, which is then pushed to spoil by dozers. A significant volume of work has been undertaken on the method to validate the value and create operational sequencing and training material.

What does a high-performance culture look like?

BlogNovember 6, 2017

In my eyes, it’s one that brings together diverse, unique and innovative people who are passionate about achieving a common goal. These individuals have a fire in their belly to make change and both challenge and embrace the distinctive strengths each brings to the game. They dust each other off when they fall and have learnt to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Every member of the team feels valued and included by their direct working group and leaders.

How would Donald Trump deal with Employee Engagement?

BlogNovember 3, 2017

This article has little to do with Donald Trump, but someone mentioned that you need an eye-catching title for a post on LinkedIn… MEC has a diverse workforce of mining engineers spread across Australia and around the world. These engineers typically spend long periods of time away from our Brisbane office working on remote mine sites.

MEC – Values your Underground Coal Margins

BlogNovember 2, 2017

MEC - Values your Underground Coal Margins The hardworking team, at MEC, just love to “get down and dirty” for your mine technical, financial and operational needs. Here are just some of the un-shameless activities we find ourselves involved in across Surface and Underground Commodities:

Mine Studies – Concept to Closure, Due Diligence;
Operational Support – Project Management;
Site Support – Technical Services & Field Specialists, and
Mine Rehabilitation & Closure – Final Landform Planning.

Ocsober’s over!

BlogNovember 1, 2017

Congratulations to David Plowman, MEC’s General Manager, for successfully navigating a month without alcohol! David raised just over $1,200 during Ocsober, Life Education’s national fundraising initiative to reduce drug- and alcohol-related harm amongst young people.

THE MINING MILLENNIAL – MEC’s model for the future

NewsOctober 25, 2017

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m a millennial. I am driven by the desire to feel like I’m contributing, adding value, respected. All admirable qualities, but as anyone who has employed a millennial knows, there is a down side. I, like many of my cohort, have left employers in the lurch, just as I’m starting to fit into their grand plans, I’ve gone and put my notice in, like a 25^th minute red card, forcing a backline reshuffle.

MEC supports Ocsober

NewsOctober 23, 2017

Our MEC General Manager, David Plowman, is giving the booze the boot this month to help Aussie kids.

What I have Learnt From The Last 1,000 Interviews

NewsOctober 9, 2017

Owning and leading a business for over 10 years has taught me a thing or two about interviews and has certainly sharpened my intuition for picking the best candidates. During the 10 years we have hired over 150 people, interviewed around 1,000 people face to face and screened at least 5,000 candidates. So what has been so special about the 3% of people that have applied to us that we actually employed?

NPV trap

BlogOctober 6, 2017

Net present value (NPV) is the universally accepted tool for measuring the value of a mining venture. We spend a lot of effort maximizing the NPV by changing all sorts of parameters. Essentially, NPV just converts future cash flows back into today's dollars by compounding the discount rate ( think interest rate ) into the future. NPV discounts early cash flow less and later cash flow more. Usually, any cash flows that are more than 15 years away are attributed negligible value in today's dollars.

Open Cut Metals – Life of Mine Planning

NewsOctober 5, 2017

MEC was engaged by ASX-listed Company operating an open cut metal mine in northern Europe to undertake a full review of their deposit and to produce a Life of Mine Plan (LOM). The goal of the project was to produce a plan that was to be both sustainable and achievable, while maximising economical mining reserves and confidence.