In the keynote address, James Carter, from Syncrude, tells about the their initiatives to improve profitability from a global perspective. Success has come from such things as focussing on creating maximum value, reducing the number of all categories of employees, improving safety and plant reliability, and applying new technologies.

Mark Hart, of Newmont Mining Company, discussed their Gold Medal Performance Initiative. This innovative program is about change: Managing it and benefiting from it. It is a new approach to management, goal setting, performance rewards, and employee communication.

Warren Holmes, of Falconbridge Ltd., tells of the aggressive long-term approach they are using to maintain a position as a low cost producer. Long term goals are set for each operating division, and for the corporation, based on business realities. Constant improvement is becoming an organizational norm.

Michael McLean tells the story of how the 115 year old Sunshine Mine recently adopted a program to reduce costs, improve safety and increase production. Managing the change was the most challenging part of the program.

Pat Babulik and Rob Platford relate the story of how Inco's Birchtree Mine had to reduce costs. In less than one year, they achieved a 13% reduction in cash cost/ton. Employee involvement and management empowerment were two of the primary reasons for success.

John Elliot and John Panos discuss the key elements of the continuous improvement program that was developed at Continental Lime's Pilot Peak plant. The use of Process Improvement Teams was also discussed.

Bruce Cavender, a consultant with Advanced Operations Management, provides an introduction to Cost Management, and discusses two different approaches to managing a cost reduction program. He also discusses the topic of strategic cost management.

Sean Dessurealt, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia, discusses how Activity Based Costing (ABC) can be adapted for use in the mining industry. This tool can help managers determine where to cut costs, and how the cuts will affect overall performance.

Larry Dyer, of LMD Consulting, discusses what management must do to develop an organization that continually manages and controls costs. Changing a company's culture to do so is very difficult, if not impossible. Some companies are succeeding in a big way, but cultural change is not for the faint hearted!

Kelly Walker, of Kelly Walker Associates, reviews some of the primary negotiations tactics that every mining company should use when dealing with their suppliers.

Michael Robichard, of Bretech Engineering Ltd., discusses the key aspects of including advanced maintenance strategies in a cost reduction program.

John Campbell and Daniel May, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, tell about the process that PWC has developed for managing complex cost reduction initiatives.

George Attar, of Andersen Consulting, discusses how supply chain management can reduce costs.

Ed McCord, of Komatsu Mining Systems, presents some food for thought. What can the mining industry learn from the Cold War, OPEC and the automotive industry?

Mike Farrell, of World Mine Cost Data Exchange, tells of detailed financial models for nearly 200 of the world's major mines. These are available or downloading from the internet.

Mike Lewis, of Modular Mining Systems, discusses some of the measurements that mines can make, with or without advanced monitoring tools, that will help them maximize the value from their existing resources.

Barry Rexroad, of Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Company, discusses the importance of tires in a mine cost savings plan, the history of low profile tires, and recent Bridgestone developments.

Paul Richard, of Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd., tells some of the ways that a dispatch system can be used to reduce mining costs.

Owen Mickelborough, of Liebherr-Canada, discusses some of the features of the new Leibherr mining trucks.

Walter Koellner, of Siemens Energy and Automation, discusses the advantages of AC drives for shovels and mining trucks.

Hugh deSouza, of SGS Canada, provides information about his company.