Operations are under increasing pressure to achieve more from their existing assets. In many sectors, focus has shifted from rapid expansion to the optimization of operations through sustainable cost improvements, improving asset utilization, better use of available funds increasing the competitiveness and profitability of their asset portfolios.This paper will explore how an operational excellence model was used to engage a global operation spanning an international value stream encompassing multiple mines, smelters and final processing plants. The work used an Operational Excellence model encompassing Asset Utilisation, Asset Reliability, Organizational Effectiveness, Operations Risk Management, Capital Effectiveness and Business Planning to self-identify practical operation improvements leveraging a identified hidden factory of 5% & direct Opex cost savings of over $10Mpa at the first site.
