SME 2026

AMC Consultants (AMC) was pleased to participate in the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, held in Salt Lake City, Utah from 22–25 February 2026. The annual event brought together mining professionals, technical experts, and industry leaders from around the world to share knowledge, explore innovation, and discuss the future of mining.

As part of the Technical Program, AMC’s Managing Director, Andrew Hall, delivered a presentation titled “AMC's Hill of Value® Strategy Optimization: Modelling Sequential Decisions to Transfer Strategy Optimization into an Operational Mine Plan.”

The presentation explored how advanced strategy optimisation tools, such as AMC’s Hill of Value®, are used to evaluate and refine long-term mining strategies. By modelling key variables—including cut-off grade and mining method—these tools enable rapid assessment of multiple scenarios to identify pathways that maximise project value.

A key focus of the session was the challenge of translating strategic plans into practical, operational outcomes. While long-term strategies provide direction, real-world mining operations often require tactical adjustments to respond to short-term disruptions or emerging opportunities. Andrew highlighted the importance of incorporating these potential deviations into strategy models, ensuring that value is preserved even as conditions change.

This is particularly critical in underground mining environments, where a series of interdependent, sequential decisions—such as access development, scheduling, and processing—must be carefully aligned. Integrating these elements into strategic models allows for more robust planning and supports smoother execution at the operational level.

We appreciated the opportunity to engage with industry peers at SME 2026 and share insights on advancing mine planning practices.