| Whittle Consulting’s approach to “Multi-asset Global Optimisation” involves a combination of analytical techniques and specialised proprietary software, the application of which involves Whittle Consulting staff, particularly in the early stages. | |
| Whilst many mining companies are comfortable with relying on external expertise to support their strategic planning process, some are less so, preferring to keep these activities in-house using readily available packaged software. However, for mining/ processing operations at the large or complex end of the scale who wish to find new sources of opportunity and value, the planning and optimisation issues become highly technical, and the case for obtaining specialist advice increases. | |
| “In order for clients to rely on our support as an integral part of their planning process, we have had to make a number of changes to our business,” says Gerald Whittle, Managing Director of Whittle Consulting. | |
| These include: - A focus on communication and planning - Rigorous review and validation - Data security - Tailored reporting to match the clients commercial and operational models - Data processing capacity - Speed of response and constant availability - Flexibility | |
| With many years business planning experience, Gerald is well aware of and sensitive to the pressures that can develop during periods of intensive planning activity. | |
| “In addition to developing our procedures and practices, we have extended our computer network to create a data processing facility with significant processing power.” Whittle Consulting has a suite of the latest Pentium Four 3 Gigahertz processors dedicated to performing optimisation runs. These generally operate 24 hours a day churning through client data and exploring their strategic options using highly developed optimisation algorithms. | |
| “Planning activity tends to come in short bursts, and the ability to perform analysis on a wide range of scenarios simultaneously at our facility enables fast turn-around of output for review and analysis.” | |
| “Our service is to work with a client to build a model that contains the features that will help them address their most important challenges. There are many options and areas of possible focus, and the key is to design a model that is relevant to the needs of the business. This involves initial model design and construction, using existing data and a collection of knowledge from within the client's organisation. To enable this, the project should have input from a cross-functional team, the cohesion of this group being of great importance.” | |
 | In addition to developing our procedures and practices, we have extended our computer network to create a data processing facility with significant processing power. |
| Creation of a Whittle Consulting Multi-asset Optimisation Model typically takes between 3 and 4 man-weeks, depending on complexity and the format and availability of data. Once a base case model is stabilised, the optimisation model becomes a platform to support strategic decision making at many levels: mining, processing, marketing, operational and financial. | |
| “Once complete, Whittle Consulting optimisation models are generally the quickest and most economic way of getting definitive answers to a wide range of strategic questions,” states Gerald Whittle. “Most scenario and calibration changes involve little personnel time, and we let the computers do all the hard analytical work.” | |
| Whittle Consulting‘s role in the medium to long term is to maintain and operate the optimisation model as and when required and keep clients updated on new developments and possibilities in this specialised area of business planning. Long-term clients call on their support on a regular and ad-hoc basis when required. | |