Opening the Conversation: how you run planning today

• Tell me briefly how your current mine planning cycle works, from block model updates to final production schedule delivery.
• Which roles on your team will be most involved in a mine plan review or re-optimization? Options: Chief Mine Planner, Mine Planning Engineer, Geological Superintendent, VP Technical Services, Operations Manager, Finance/CFO, External consultant
• How often do you run a formal re-optimization or mid-life mine plan review today? Options: Quarterly, Biannually, Annually, Only at feasibility or major reviews, Ad hoc
• Walk me through the last time you presented a mine plan to your investment committee, what the key objections were, and how they were resolved.
• List the primary modeling and reporting workflows your team uses before design work begins, including tools, file types, and who prepares them.

Where the current plan could fail your financing review

• What single forecast error in your current mine plan would make lenders walk away?
• How many percentage points of NPV uplift would justify changing your current planning workflow? Options: 0-2%, 3-5%, 6-10%, Greater than 10%
• When you run optimization on your largest block model, where do time or memory limits cause you to stop or simplify the run?
• Point to the one assumption in your block model that most changes reserve classification or recoverable inventory.
• If an external re-optimization proved a 5 to 10 percent NPV improvement, what is the fastest internal approval timeline you could meet? Options: Within 1 week, 2-4 weeks, 1-2 months, Longer than 2 months

Where value is actually being left behind

• What's currently leaving value in the ground because of your cut-off grade choice or pit shell selection?
• Describe a past optimization or scheduling run that produced surprising results and what you changed because of it.
• How much time does your planning team spend each week fixing schedule conflicts or handling blending shortfalls? Options: Less than 5 hours, 5 to 10 hours, 10 to 20 hours, More than 20 hours
• Who is responsible for validating geological attributes, collar surveys, and upstream inputs before optimization runs? Options: Geology team lead, Mine planning lead, Survey team, External consultant, Not defined
• What technical limit, if unmet, would force you to cancel an external optimization project now?

Practical readiness: can the project actually start on time

• If data access is not granted within two weeks, would the project timeline miss your financing milestone? Options: Yes, it would miss the milestone, It would create a delay but not miss the milestone, No, we could absorb the delay
• Which data sources must be provided for an initial run, select all that apply Options: Geological block model with attributes, Drill hole database and assays, Topography and DEM, Survey meshes and pit surfaces, Geotechnical logs and models, Processing plant and cut-off data, Equipment fleet and productivity inputs
• Do you have a named data owner who can authorize transfers and sign a data access agreement within your target window? Options: Yes, named and available, Named but availability delayed, No, not yet identified
• What file exchange methods can you support for large model transfer, SFTP, cloud storage, direct database export, or physical media?
• If regulatory or geotechnical approvals are required before design changes, can those be obtained in time for your financing review? Options: Yes, approvals on track, Possibly, but timing is uncertain, No, approvals are a gating risk

The other options you are weighing

• Why would you keep your current planning approach rather than hiring an external re-optimization partner?
• Who on your team or among external vendors have you already discussed this problem with?
• What alternatives are you actively evaluating, select all that apply Options: In-house re-optimization, Incumbent vendor offering, Spreadsheet/manual rework, Pilot of new software, Independent consulting firm, Other
• Under what conditions would you stay with your current approach instead of switching to an external provider?
• Has anyone proposed solving this entirely in-house and committed headcount and budget to do so? Options: Yes, committed headcount and budget, Discussed but no commitment, No in-house proposal
• If the incumbent could match our estimated NPV uplift but required twice the timeline, which option would you choose? Options: Stick with incumbent for continuity, Choose the faster external provider, Need more analysis before choosing

How you'll judge success and accept the work

• Identify the single metric your CFO will use to accept a new mine plan package.
• What minimum NPV uplift percentage would move this to immediate procurement? Options: 0-2%, 3-5%, 6-10%, Greater than 10%
• How will lenders judge bankability beyond NPV, select all that apply Options: Reserve classification and JORC/NI reporting, Independent geotechnical review, Detailed sensitivity to prices/costs, Transparent operating cost inputs, Independent schedule validation, Other
• Who must sign the final acceptance checklist to trigger final billing and close the engagement? Options: Chief Mine Planner, VP Technical Services, CFO/Finance, Project Manager, External lender representative
• If we deliver a pilot that reproduces your current outputs within agreed tolerance, what internal decision would that allow you to make? Options: Proceed to contract, Request extended pilot, Require more references, Put decision on hold

Commitment and blockers: can we move fast if everything checks out

• What single organizational blocker would stop this project even if technical risk is solved?
• How soon can your team make key stakeholders available for a two week data working session? Options: Immediately, Within 2 weeks, Within 4 weeks, Longer than 4 weeks
• What's your target project window for starting work? Options: Within 4 weeks, Within 8 weeks, Within 3 months, 6+ months
• Who will own vendor coordination and act as the single point of contact during the engagement? Options: Chief Mine Planner, Project Manager, Procurement lead, Technical lead, Other
• If the pilot, references, and contract terms meet your criteria, what steps will accelerate contract signature on your side?

• Update 3D Geological Block Model
• Generate Optimal Open-Pit Shells
• Design Underground Stopes and Layouts
• Produce Production Schedule with Blending
• Optimize Cut-off Grade and Stockpile Strategy
• Integrate Fleet and Equipment Productivity Models
• Prepare Detailed Mine Design Drawings (CAD/GIS)
• Deliver Geotechnical Design Inputs and Slope Parameters
• Generate Life-of-Mine Financial Model and NPV
• Export Schedules and Models in Interoperable Formats
• Produce Grade-Control and Reconciliation Block Models
• Prepare Bankable Due-Diligence Reporting Package

Update 3D Geological Block Model

• Which block model format(s) will you provide and which block attributes must be preserved (for example grade, density, domain ID, recovery)?
• What is your authoritative block model revision (date and revision code) that we should use for the update?
• Provide the drillhole datasets, collar surveys, assay certificates, and metadata you will deliver for model updating.
• Who in your team will be responsible for block model sign-off and version control during the update?
• When do you need the updated block model delivered relative to the optimization milestone (for example before pit optimization run)? Options: Before pit optimization, Before scheduling, Other
• Indicate the acceptable validation thresholds you require for block statistics and volume balance (for example ±X% grade or volume).

Generate Optimal Open-Pit Shells

• Confirm which economic case(s) you want modelled (base case price, downside, upside) and the metal price inputs for each case.
• List the operating cost inputs you will supply (mining $/t, processing $/t, G&A, royalties) and any cost escalation schedules.
• Specify the slope angles, bench heights, and rock mass units you want applied during pit optimization.
• Are multiple pit selection criteria required such as maximize NPV, maximize contained metal, or minimize strip ratio? Options: Yes, No
• Will you require detailed pit shell exports in CAD/DXF and tagged reserve tables for reporting? Options: Yes, No
• Should optimization runtimes be constrained for your largest block models and what maximum runtime will you accept (hours)?

Design Underground Stopes and Layouts

• How would you describe the primary underground mining method you will use for stope design (for example longhole open stoping, cut-and-fill, sublevel caving)? Options: Longhole open stoping, Cut-and-fill, Sublevel caving, Other
• State the minimum mining widths, required dilution percentages, and mining recovery targets you expect in stope designs.
• Select which ground support types and spacing you require to be assumed in the stope layout (for example rockbolts, shotcrete, cable bolts). Options: Rockbolts, Shotcrete, Cable bolts, Mesh, Other
• Identify the geotechnical parameters and borehole data you will provide for stope stability analyses (for example RMR, UCS, core logs).
• Outline any access, development or ventilation constraints we must respect when generating underground layouts.
• Estimate the maximum development advance rate and lateral development metres per month we should assume for scheduling.

Produce Production Schedule with Blending

• Attach or list your plant feed capacity and availability targets (tph, annual availability %) that we must honour in the schedule.
• Upload or describe the processing routes you will use for each material type (ore types, waste, stockpile) and their recoveries.
• Enter the blending rules you require (minimum and maximum head grades, metal percentage bands, recipe priorities).
• Choose the scheduling resolution you prefer for production outputs and lookahead (monthly, weekly, daily). Options: Monthly, Weekly, Daily, Custom
• Mark any seasonal or maintenance shut-down periods that must be included in the schedule. Options: Yes, No
• Detail stockpile sizing, reclaim rate rules and priority drawdown you want modelled for ROM and intermediate stockpiles.

Optimize Cut-off Grade and Stockpile Strategy

• Explain whether you want cut-off grade optimization integrated dynamically with the schedule or run as independent cases. Options: Dynamic within schedule, Standalone optimization, Both
• Name the processing cost, recovery rates, and payable metal factors you will provide for cut-off calculations.
• Supply your target ore loss and dilution tolerances that should be used to evaluate stockpile strategies.
• Share any existing stockpile management rules you currently apply (for example segregation by grade, drawdown priority). Options: Yes, No
• Set the upper and lower head grade bands you consider acceptable for mill feed blending.
• Describe any regulatory or contract constraints that affect cut-off grade selection (for example minimum grade for toll milling, concentrate penalties).

Integrate Fleet and Equipment Productivity Models

• Recommend the fleet classes and counts you want modelled and provide typical shovel and truck pairings.
• Authorize whether we may use published productivity curves or whether you will supply site-specific time-motion data. Options: You will supply data, Use published curves, Use both
• Allocate the equipment availability, planned maintenance windows and shift patterns we should assume for productivity modelling.
• Deliver fuel consumption rates, variable cost per operating hour, and spare parts lead-times if these must be included in the LOM cost model. Options: Yes, No
• Declare any outsourcing arrangements (for example contract haulage or third-party processing) that change fleet modelling boundaries. Options: Yes, No
• Verify whether equipment telemetry or fleet management data can be shared for calibration and in which format (for example CSV export, database access). Options: CSV export, Database access, No telemetry available, Other

Prepare Detailed Mine Design Drawings (CAD/GIS)

• Which CAD/GIS file formats will you accept for final drawings (for example DXF, DWG, Shapefile, GeoPackage)? Options: DXF, DWG, Shapefile, GeoPackage, Other
• What coordinate reference system and datum do your survey teams use for deliverables?
• Provide the required level-of-detail for drawings (for example bench labels, berm dimensions, haul road cross-sections, services) and any drafting standards.
• Who will provide base topography, surface models, and survey control points for integration into CAD/GIS outputs?
• When do you need as-built tie-ins and survey control incorporated relative to the design delivery milestone? Options: At delivery, After field survey update, Not required
• Indicate whether drawing layers should include attribute tagging for tonnage, material type, and design IDs for downstream GIS import. Options: Yes, No

Deliver Geotechnical Design Inputs and Slope Parameters

• Confirm the geotechnical laboratory test results and borehole logging datasets you will provide for slope design. Options: Yes, No
• List the rock mass classifications, RMR or Q values, and any groundwater measurement data available for design inputs.
• Specify the factor-of-safety targets and transient pore-pressure scenarios you require for slope sensitivity cases.
• Are staged excavation sequences and monitoring plan requirements part of the slope design deliverable? Options: Yes, No
• Will you require slope parameter tables per bench and inter-ramp slope for inclusion in design CAD outputs? Options: Yes, No
• Should we include recommendations for geotechnical instrumentation locations and monitoring frequency in the deliverable? Options: Yes, No

Generate Life-of-Mine Financial Model and NPV

• How should capital and operating costs be categorised in your preferred reporting template (for example initial capex, sustaining capex, sustaining opex, unit costs)?
• State the currency, tax regime, and fiscal year conventions you require for cashflow reporting.
• Select required discount rate(s) to be modelled for NPV and sensitivity analysis. Options: 5%, 8%, 10%, Custom
• Identify any corporate accounting constraints the financial model must align with (for example depreciation method, revenue recognition).
• Outline the level of documentation and model transparency you require (for example detailed formula sheet, assumptions log, change history). Options: Full documentation, Summary only, Custom
• Estimate how frequently you will request scenario updates (monthly, quarterly, ad hoc) during the engagement. Options: Monthly, Quarterly, Ad hoc
• Attach the formal acceptance criteria you require for the life-of-mine financial model (for example independent cost audit, CFO sign-off, reconciliation to your accounting template). Options: Independent cost audit, CFO sign-off, Reconciliation to accounting template, Other

Export Schedules and Models in Interoperable Formats

• Upload the list of downstream systems and the file formats they accept so we can target exports correctly (for example scheduler, GIS, financial).
• Enter the required metadata fields and attribute mappings you expect with each exported file (for example block ID, domain, tonnage, grade).
• Choose whether you prefer automated export scripts, manual file packages, or both for handover. Options: Automated export script, Manual file package, Both
• Mark any security or data redaction rules that exports must comply with before sharing externally. Options: Yes, No
• Detail the validation checks you will perform on imported files and any acceptance thresholds for imports.

• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
• Master Services Agreement (MSA)
• Statement of Work (SOW)
• Fee Schedule & Payment Terms
• Data Access & Fieldwork Authorization
• Data Processing & Privacy Addendum (DPA)
• Site Safety & Insurance Addendum
• Change Order Agreement

• Post-delivery Health Check (weeks 1-4)
• First Measurement Review (weeks 4-10)
• 90-day Outcome Check-in (around day 90)
• Quarterly Operational Review
• Annual Re-optimization and Lessons Review

• Assign remediation tasks for critical issues and set target completion dates within the quarter.
• Produce a 90-day reconciliation package including NPV delta analysis and grade-tonnage reconciliation spreadsheets.
• Create a prioritized enhancement backlog with expected impact on NPV or schedule and proposed timelines.
• Schedule the first re-optimization run and list required data handoffs and validation checkpoints.
• Operations performance vs planned schedule
• Ensure schedule adherence trends are visible and that high-impact variances have defined mitigation steps.
• Reduce the count of critical open technical issues older than 30 days.
• Agree the quarter plan for backlog items that materially affect NPV or schedule deliverability.
• Confirm deployment and acceptance status
• Run a short impact analysis quantifying NPV sensitivity to current schedule variances.
• Publish the prioritized quarterly backlog and verification checklist for stakeholder sign-off.
• Annual performance summary
• Confirm cumulative NPV realized and block-model reconciliation rate relative to Executive Outcome Alignment targets and record decisions.
• Agree the scope and timeline for any annual re-optimization or major model refresh.
• Document lessons learned and required data collection to improve model confidence next year.
• Prepare a re-optimization scope document listing data needs, deliverables, and timeline for the coming year.
• Compile a lessons-learned report and a prioritized list of model updates to close data or assumption gaps.
• Establish the annual monitoring dashboard and schedule for periodic reconciliations and check-ins.
• Confirm the delivered mine plan assets are present and match the Delivery Acceptance checklist.
• List critical blockers and temporary mitigations with owners and target resolution dates.
• Confirm incumbent system decommission or read-only plan is in motion and an archive approach is defined.
• Produce a short deployment validation log documenting files received, load errors, and verification steps.
• Run a prioritized defect-fix ticket for critical blockers with target resolution dates.
• Execute the incumbent archive plan and publish confirmation that legacy data is stored and access mode is set.
• Present first outcome data vs targets
• Determine whether NPV uplift and monthly production variance are trending toward the Executive Outcome Alignment targets.
• Identify the primary root causes for any variance and agree concrete remediation steps.
• Commit a timeline that delivers corrected model runs and schedule updates before the 90-day outcome check-in.
• Run targeted sensitivity and re-optimization scenarios addressing identified assumption gaps.
• Provide a reconciled production dataset showing planned versus actual tonnes for the prior month.
• Close or escalate the top three model validation defects that affect NPV calculations.
• 90-day outcome report
• Document realized NPV uplift and model reconciliation rate and confirm whether they meet the expectations recorded in Executive Outcome Alignment.
• Prioritize enhancements and decide the scope for any follow-on re-optimization iteration.
• Agree a schedule for delivering prioritized fixes or re-optimization runs with target dates.
• Open issues and backlog burn-down
• Data and model validation
• Lessons learned and model updates
• Root-cause analysis for any gaps
• Grade and tonnage reconciliation review
• Decision on re-optimization scope
• Early adoption and access checks
• Financial sensitivity of schedule variance
• Enhancement requests and risk register update
• Technical issues and model validation defects
• Open defects and blockers triage
• Agree scope and timeline for any re-optimization iteration
• Long-term support and follow-up work plan
• Quarter plan and owners
• Agree corrective actions and timeline to next checkpoint
• Incumbent system wind-down
• Agree immediate remediation actions