Mincom, now a part of ABB and a leading global provider of software and services for asset-intensive industries, has released findings from its second-annual study into the views of key stakeholders in mining. The Mincom Mining Executive Insights: 2011 survey has revealed the top challenge this year among senior mining executives is optimising production effectiveness, pushing last year’s primary concern – ensuring workplace safety – into second position. “Based on this year’s research, we find the overall outlook for the mining industry is conservative, but increasingly positive,” said Jennifer Tejada, Executive VP and Chief Strategy Officer, Mincom. “One of the recurring themes we also uncovered is the fundamental importance of cost control, predictable performance and growth achieved by the standardization of processes and the adoption of best practices.” (more…)