1. Review of Management
Structure and Practices Major Not-for-Profit Industry Association
A review of the management structure and practices of the major U.S.
mining association. Conducted the study for the Board of Directors of the
association. Interviewed key Board members to determine requirements, assessed
the association's management and organization structure and management practice
against these requirements, developed principal management alternatives, evaluated
each, and made recommendations to the association's Board of Directors. (150-16).
2. Optimizing Warehouse Operations - Mid-Sized Western Coal Company
The objective of this work was to develop programs to provide improved warehouse
services to the operations at a lower cost. Our work program involved visiting
the major coal mine to develop information on the capabilities of the current
systems and the desires tar service of the operating people. We analyzed present
warehouse operations and identified various approaches for improvement, analyzed
each, selected the best one and reviewed it with the appropriate company and
operating warehouse people. As part of this work we reviewed the company's
strategies, supplier relationships, inventory policies, data processing methods,
customer measurement and reporting. We assessed workload. Our recommendations
covered each of these areas. (740-1)
3. Management Succession and Organization Planning - Industrial Minerals
Company
We assisted the Chief Executive Officers of the parent and its minerals business
subsidiary to develop a management succession program for the subsidiary.
This program provided not only for development of the future Chief Executive
Officer and other subsidiary management, but also for the gradual change in
the subsidiary's management system from entrepreneurial to professional. (253-9)
4. Management and Organizational Review - Major Metals Mining Company
Assisted the Chairman and CEO of one of North America's largest mining companies
to revise the basic concepts of his company's management and business organization.
The work consisted of developing a draft organization concept off the base
of our knowledge of the company, its objectives and strategy, and its business
environment; merging our organization views with the Chairman's own into a
structure that reflected the best thinking of both and submitting that to
the key managers for their contributions. Additionally, associated "white
papers" were submitted on key issues on a variety of matters in the new
management structure (e.g., on how the organization would work; on metals
marketing requirements; on strategic planning requirements; etc.). The study
was implemented at the conclusion of the work. (302-9)
5. Organization and Strategic Planning Study - Major Diversified Mining
Company
Organization and strategic planning study for the molybdenum business of a
diversified mining company. The assignment thrust was to (a) review and evaluate
our client's molybdenum business strategy and (b) determine the management
capabilities, both structure and staffing, to carry out that strategy. In
the course of the work we visited the mines and roasters, reviewed all management
organization charts and position guides and arrangements, and reviewed our
client's projections and the reasons for them. We interviewed all key members
of management, as well as reviewed relevant published data. Our recommendations
provided our views of revisions to the company's strategy and management structure
and arrangements. (310-18)
6. Survey of Management Practices - Major Oil & Gas Company
We conducted a survey of management practices and processes, covering both
underground and surface coal mining operations, to classify and categorize
these practices. Information was gained through field interviews with a representative
number of coal companies throughout the United States. (246-18)
7. Develop a New Mine Management Reporting System - Major U.S. Coal Company
In conjunction with a big six accounting firm and the coal company operations
and MIS managers, a new mine management reporting system was developed.
Our work involved bringing order to the process and interfacing between the
mine managers and the systems people. The project definition phase specifically
involved our identifying the work processes and functional areas involved
in a large coal mining operation. We then elicited from the mine level managers,
those activities which most directly impact the achievement or non-achievement
of the company's goals and objectives.
Leading indicators of the progress of these activities were developed and
the linkage between the measured activities and company objectives were established.
The proposed measurements were reviewed with senior management and, after
approval, used to begin system development. (706-6)
8. Management and Operational Evaluation - Major Primary Silver/Zinc Development
Company
Evaluate the management structure and arrangements and processes for a US$600
million South American mining project on behalf of its owner, a junior mining
company headquartered in North America. Outputs included recommended organization
plans, position interface charts and position descriptions. (735-18)
9. Management Structure Review - Major U.S. Coal Company
This assignment was to provide views on how a West African government ministry
responsible for solid minerals might organize the management of its coal and
minerals activities. The objective is to maximize the country's potential
from its solid minerals resource. A&S reviewed relevant documentation
on the current institutional framework and national mineral inventory. A&S
described best mining management organization practice, and outlined the potential
application of basic mining management organization practice to the development
and operations of the resources. A series of future steps were recommended
to develop the management structure that is best for the country. For this
work, A&S senior management consultants reviewed the current situation
and developed a preliminary report. (706-17)
10. Multiclient Study Survey of Purchasing & Materials Management -
U.S. Coal Industry
This assignment involved a survey of purchasing and materials management in
the U.S. coal business. Fourteen coal companies participated in it. The assignment
commenced in February 1996 and was completed in June 1996.
The focus of the survey was to identify, review and document present purchasing
and materials management practices in the U.S. coal business. The data base
developed flowed from interviews with each of the survey participants; interviews
with ten major suppliers, plus our going-in knowledge of purchasing and material
management in a wide variety of manufacturing businesses gained through the
alliance with our study partner - KPMG Peat Marwick. Subjects covered in the
interviews included:
| Strategic partnerships between coal producers and supplier/equipment manufacturers; | |
| Technical development (paperless procurement); | |
| Development in out-sourcing (vendor managed inventory, integrated suppliers); | |
| Evaluation of the impact of vendor/coal company relationships. |
The study reported both
the facts of the survey, but also provided opportunities that we perceived
existed for the coal industry to attain improvements. The general opportunities
for improved procurement strategy and practices can, in our judgment, result
in as much as a two percent to five percent cost improvement of current expenditures.
This is the first time in the history of the coal industry (or for that matter
the metal mining industry) that such a study has been undertaken. (739-1)
11. Evaluation of Management Structure and Staffing - Major Primary Silver/Zinc
Development Company
Evaluated the management structure and staffing requirements of a silver development
company whose initial activities were focused on the development of a major
silver/zinc project in Bolivia. Prepared evaluation criteria and evaluated
organizational alternatives against these criteria. Worked with the CEO to
select the structure that most nearly met inherent in the evaluation criteria.
Also prepared an implementation program. (735-2)
