Author: yinghui

Mining has well and truly entered the world of big data.

Nearly every aspect of the mining industry, from minute processes through to massive haul truck payloads and warehousing and maintenance activities are measured, tracked, and stored.

ERP software helps many miners deal with these issues and gain both a granular and wider view of their operations.

However, due to the mass of data this generates, coupled with the remote nature of many mines, the need for systems that can deal with level of data while providing multiple access points such as mobile and web is high.

Rio Tinto’s global business services head Scott Singer explained it has had a number of issues with its digital data management, and the need for cloud and web based applications.

“We generate a huge volume of unstructured data and growth rates are expanding significantly,” Singer said, and “like most companies we are not good at ‘hitting the delete key’.”

“Like most businesses we don’t have the core expertise to manage this.”

But this problem doesn’t just affect the majors, from explorers through to mid-level miners as well as their suppliers, all face the issue of dealing with multiple complex business processes throughout a multi-tiered system, with much of it now occurring over many sites all interlinked over the internet.

Dealing with all these factors can cost a business dearly if it not ready or able to adapt to the changing nature of the market.

According to Sage Business Solutions managing director Mike Lorge a recent study carried out by Sage in Europe and North America showed “midmarket companies with improved data accessibility, quality, intelligence, and usability can expect approximately 35 per cent more incremental revenue year over year than lower-performing companies.

Sage Business Solutions has recently launched its latest iteration of its SAGE ERP X3 software – version 7 – which “brings flexibility and an entirely redesigned web and mobile experience, giving all employees the information they need wherever they are,” Sage stated, with Lorge adding

Importantly, the program has scalability allowing the response to grow or contract as work progresses, giving businesses more options as they develop projects or wind down certain operations.

Lorge explained: “As companies grow they can lose agility and profitable growth; Sage’s ERP X3 version 7 provides the tools to simplify and speed up the use of information to revive this growth.”

“The primary focus of developing the new version – which is focused predominately on the mid-market space-  was integrating next gen user interfaces; making it web based and device agnostic, and really using the BYOD trend, as we see more consumer trends entering the business software world,” Lorge told Australian Mining.

The new X3 system provides a next generation alternative to Excel spreadsheet systems that many workplaces still use, with the program featuring embedded workflow, integrated businesses intelligence, easy-to-use dashboards, and device independent reporting, which allows for remote access and a BYOD style of operation as well as on site and in the field applications, as it can be used with iOS, Windows phones and most Android devices.

It also allows for global management capabilities, giving operations with multiple sites or global offices, greater integration of workflows.

The software has already been picked up by project and engineering design firm Saitec Australia, which is integrating ERP X3 throughout its business, into its analysis and reporting, financial accounting and management control, and operational management in areas such as production, purchasing, sales, and inventory.

Importantly, it also gives added support in terms of traceability and tracking of compliance and controls, helping businesses to ensure their entire supply chain from start to finish complies to regulations.

Sage Business senior vice president for AAMEA, Keith Fenner, told Australian Mining the new ERP provides a lot of flexibility for businesses.

“For instance, the agility it allows for operators in monitoring and controlling their stocks. As it has an overview of the many different facets of an operation the system can scrape sales, purchasing, and stock information, showing an increased sale of certain parts, compare that against existing stock levels, and that present this upcoming inventory issue,” Fenner said.

“One major miner has adopted it and within 30 days of using X3 for inventory administration they freed up a number of efficiencies, and had a greater visibility as well as better stock/procurement management. On top of this it brought in the concepts of seasonality to their supply chain and provided forecasts for likely demand, which was all based off of existing stock plans.

“These operators are able to now get a granular analysis using X3 version 7, using big data,” he said.

“While most companies can’t change their cost base for operations, with greater visibility they can address efficiency issues and help with stock and IT management.”

This also allows for more predictive, rather than reactive, business decisions and actions.

Lorge added that the latest version of X3 is building the foundation for greater visibility and the ongoing convergence in IT and operational technology currently being seen in Australian industry.

“If you don’t have the right architecture in ERP then your business will find it more difficult to keep up with the changes in compliance and regulation and efficiency developments, you need to get it right at this level otherwise it will add unnecessary cost and delays to operations.

The explosive expansion of the Internet of things (IoT) is driving rapid demand growth for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices in areas including asset-tracking systems, smart grids and building automation.

Worldwide market revenue for MEMS directly used in industrial IoT equipment will rise to $120 million in 2018, up from $16 million in 2013, according to IHS Technology.
Additional MEMS also will be used to support the deployment of the IoT, such as devices employed in data centers. This indirect market for industrial IoT MEMS will increase to US$214 million in 2018, up from US$43 million in 2013.

The accompanying figure presents the IHS forecast of global MEMS revenue from direct and indirect IoT uses.

Global market shipments for industrial IoT equipment are expected to expand to 7.3 billion units in 2025, up from 1.8 billion in 2013.
The industrial IoT market is a diverse area, comprising equipment such as nodes, controllers and infrastructure, and used in markets ranging from building automation to commercial transport, smart cards, industrial automation, lighting and health. Such gear employs a range of MEMS device types including accelerometers, pressure sensors, timing components and microphones.

“The Internet of things is sometimes called the machine-to-machine (M2M) revolution, and one important class of machines—MEMS—will play an essential role in expansion of the boom of the industrial IoT segment in the coming years,” said Jeremie Bouchaud, director and senior principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at IHS.
“MEMS sensors allow equipment to gather and digitize real-world data that then can be shared on the Internet. The IoT represents a major new growth opportunity for the MEMS market.”

China is a major export market for Australian manufactured products, with exports worth over $2 billion in 2013. ChAFTA creates new opportunities for Australian manufacturers; including those seeking to supply goods to China’s rapidly expanding middle class. China currently applies tariffs of up to 47 per cent on some of Australia’s manufactured products, including pharmaceuticals, mining machinery, medical equipment, paper products, automotive parts, clothing and film.

Key outcomes for manufactured goods include:

Elimination of 3 to 10 per cent tariffs on pharmaceutical products, including vitamins and health products, either on entry into force or phased out within four years. China is Australia’s largest market for pharmaceuticals, with exports worth $559 million in 2013.
Elimination of the 10 per cent tariff on car engines within four years. China is an important market for Australian car engines, with exports worth over $102 million.
Elimination of tariffs ranging from 6.5 per cent to 14 per cent on plastic products within four years. China is Australia’s second-largest market for plastic products, with exports of over $96 million.
Elimination of the 3 per cent and 8 per cent tariffs on precious stones within four years. China’s imports from Australia were worth around $45 million.
Immediate elimination of the 4 per cent tariff on orthopaedic appliances, which account for exports worth $37 million.
Elimination of the 6 and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminium plates and sheets within four years. These exports are worth around $31 million.
Elimination of the 6.5 to 15 per cent tariff on make-up and hair products within four years. The exports of these products are worth over $18 million.
Elimination of the 10 per cent tariff on centrifuges within four years, accounting for exports worth over $14 million.
Elimination of the 21 per cent tariff on pearls within four years. China’s imports from Australia in this area total around $3 million.
ChAFTA provides greater certainty by locking in zero tariffs on a range of other manufactured products, including wood chips, radiata pine products, some electrical and communications equipment, and some paper-related products.

A small number of products sensitive to China’s economy or culture are excluded from tariff concessions, including some fertilisers, wood and paper products. These products are excluded in China’s other FTAs, and accounted for only 0.1 per cent of China’s imports of resources, energy and manufactured products from Australia in 2013.

ChAFTA provides improved market access for Australian exporters of complementary medicines. At the same time it paves the way for closer collaboration between regulators, registration authorities, and relevant professional bodies on both sides to facilitate trade in traditional Chinese medicines and complementary medicines. It does so in a manner consistent with all relevant regulatory frameworks.

Non-tariff barriers

ChAFTA improves the transparency of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and ensures such measures do not create unnecessary obstacles to bilateral trade. A specific mechanism to review and address NTMs on any good on a case-by-case basis will be established.

Trade remedies

Australian producers will continue to have full access to trade remedies available under the WTO including anti-dumping and countervailing measures. In addition, ChAFTA includes a temporary bilateral safeguard measure which may be applied if either an Australian or Chinese domestic industry faces “serious injury” due to a surge in imports following a reduction in tariffs under the Agreement.

China’s products into Australia

Consistent with other FTAs, Australian tariffs on resources, energy and manufactured goods will be eliminated under ChAFTA. Taking into account the impact of tariff reductions on sensitive industries, the 5 per cent tariff on some products within the automotive, steel, aluminium, plastics, canned fruit, carpets, clothing and footwear sectors will be phased-out within two or four years to allow industry to adjust.

Agriculture and processed food

China buys more of Australia’s agricultural produce than any other market. In 2013, this market was worth around $9 billion to Australian farmers and the broader agricultural sector.

Trade is growing strongly, but there are opportunities for greater and more profitable trade. The Australian Bureau of Resource Economics and Sciences predicts China will account for 43 per cent of all growth world-wide in agricultural demand to 2050.

ChAFTA provides Australia with an advantage over our major agricultural competitors, including the United States, Canada and the European Union. It also counters the advantage Chile and New Zealand currently enjoy through their FTAs with China reached in 2006 and 2008.

In agriculture and food, the Australian Government has secured:

The removal of all tariffs on our dairy products (which can be as high as 20 per cent) within four to 11 years.
The removal of tariffs of 12 to 25 percent on beef over nine years.
The removal of tariffs on live animal exports of 10 per cent within four years.
The removal of tariffs on sheepmeat of 12 to 23 per cent over eight years.
The removal of tariffs of 14 to 20 per cent on wine over four years.
The removal of tariffs on all horticulture products, ranging up to 30 per cent, most within four years.
The immediate elimination of the three per cent tariff on barley.
An Australia-only duty free quota for wool in addition to continued access to China’s WTO wool quota.
The removal of tariffs on seafood, including of 15 and 14 per cent respectively on rock lobster and abalone, over four years.
The removal of tariffs across a range of processed foods including fruit juice and honey.
The removal of tariffs of 5 to 14 per cent on hides, skins and leather over two to seven years.
There are no changes to Australia’s risk-based quarantine measures as a result of ChAFTA.

As part of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China already allows generous imports of rice, wheat, cotton and sugar with generally low tariffs imposed within a quota. Australian exporters have unrestricted access to these allowances (notwithstanding, Australia does not have technical quarantine market access for rice).

China has not provided further liberalisation of these products in any of its FTAs, on the basis they are significantly sensitive staples. It has also not granted Australia, or any of our competitors, additional access for rapeseed and vegetable oils, on the same basis. However, China has agreed to a built-in review process three years after entry into force to review the Agreement, including market access.

Resources, Energy and Manufacturing

In 2013, Australia exported over $85 billion worth of resources, energy and manufactured products to China. On entry into force of the Agreement, 92.9 per cent of China’s current imports of these products from Australia will enter duty free, with most remaining tariffs removed within four years. On full implementation of the Agreement, 99.9 per cent of Australia’s current resources, energy and manufacturing exports will enjoy duty free entry into China.

In resources, energy and manufacturing, the Australian Government has secured:

The removal of tariffs on all resources and energy products: including on coking coal (metallurgical coal for steel making) (currently subject to a 3 per cent tariff) on the first day of the Agreement, and non-coking coal (thermal/steam coal for power generation) (6 per cent) within two years.
The removal of tariffs on transformed resources and energy products, such as refined copper and alloys (unwrought) (currently subject to 1 and 2 per cent tariffs), aluminium oxide (alumina) (8 per cent), nickel mattes and oxides (3 per cent), unwrought zinc (3 per cent), copper waste and scrap (1.5 per cent), unwrought aluminium (5 and 7 per cent tariffs), aluminium waste and scrap (1.5 per cent), unwrought nickel (3 per cent), other mineral substances (3 and 5 per cent tariffs), and titanium dioxide (6.5 and 10 per cent tariffs) – many upon the Agreement entering into force.
The removal of tariffs of up to 10 per cent on pharmaceuticals, including vitamins and health products, either on entry into force or phased out over four years.
The removal of tariffs within four years for other manufactured products, including car engines (currently subject to a 10 per cent tariff), plastic products (6.5 to 14 per cent), diamonds and other precious stones (3 and 8 per cent tariffs), orthopaedic appliances (4 per cent), aluminium plates and sheets (6 and 10 per cent), make-up and hair products (6.5 to 15 per cent), centrifuges (10 per cent) and pearls (21 per cent).
ChAFTA provides greater certainty for Australian exporters by locking-in zero tariffs on major exports such as iron ore, gold, crude petroleum oils, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

ChAFTA improves the transparency of non-tariff measures (NTMs) and ensures such measures do not create unnecessary obstacles to bilateral trade. A specific mechanism to review and address NTMs on a case-by-case basis will be established.

ChAFTA preserves full access for Australian producers to trade remedies available under the WTO, including anti-dumping and countervailing measures.

Services

China is Australia’s largest services market, with exports in services valued at $7 billion in 2013.

In ChAFTA, China has offered Australia its best ever services commitments in an FTA (other than China’s agreements with Hong Kong and Macau). Most valuably, this includes new or significantly improved market access for Australian banks, insurers, securities and futures companies, law firms and professional services suppliers, education services exporters, as well as health, aged care, construction, manufacturing and telecommunications services businesses in China.

Today, services constitute around 72 per cent of Australia’s economic activity. The Agreement guarantees existing market access for Australian services suppliers in a wide range of other priority sectors in one of the world’s fastest growing services markets. ChAFTA includes a framework to advance mutual recognition of services qualifications and to support mutual recognition initiatives by professional bodies in Australia and China.

Legal services

Australian law firms will be able to establish commercial associations with Chinese law firms in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ). This will allow them to offer Australian, Chinese and international legal services through a commercial presence, without restrictions on the location of clients.
Financial services

China has committed to deliver new or improved market access to Australian financial services providers in the banking, insurance, funds management, securities, securitization and futures sectors.
A future work program will deliver on-going market access in the financial services sector as China pushes ahead with economic reform and liberalisation.
Alongside these new financial services commitments, the respective central banks of China and Australia have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding facilitating the establishment of an official renminbi (RMB) clearing bank in Sydney. The clearing bank provides a more direct means of facilitating cross-border RMB transactions between Australian and Chinese entities than was previously available, and will improve the efficiency of cross-border RMB transactions.
Education services

Within one year of commencement, China will list on an official Ministry of Education website all Australian private higher education institutions registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
This will add 77 institutions to the existing 105 Australian institutions on the website providing an important and trusted source of information to potential Chinese students who today make up 29 per cent of our international student market, injecting $4 billion to the Australian economy.
In addition, Australia and China will continue to discuss options to:
Facilitate student and teacher exchanges between both countries.
Increase marketing and recruitment opportunities for Australian education providers in China.
Telecommunications services

China has agreed to guarantee new access for Australian companies investing in value-added telecommunications services in the SFTZ with improved foreign equity limits, now allowing for wholly Australian-owned companies supplying domestic multi-party communication (DMPC) services, application store services, store and forward services, and call-centre services.
Tourism and travel-related services

China has guaranteed that Australian service suppliers will be able to construct, renovate and operate wholly Australian-owned hotels and restaurants in China.
Australian travel agencies/tour operators are also able to establish wholly Australian-owned subsidiaries in China for tours within China for both domestic and foreign travelers.
Health and aged care services

In its best ever offer in a FTA on hospitals and aged care, China will permit wholly Australian-owned hospitals and aged care institutions to be established in China. This greatly expands the private health sector’s wide offering of medical services through East Asia.
Construction and engineering services

China will provide new market access to Australian companies undertaking joint construction projects with Chinese counterparts in Shanghai. Australian companies will be exempted from business scope restrictions, allowing them to undertake a wider range of commercially-meaningful projects.
Manufacturing services

China has made its first ever FTA commitment on manufacturing services, guaranteeing access for wholly Australian-owned companies to provide contract manufacturing services covering a wide range of manufactured products.
Mining and extractive industry services

In best-ever FTA commitments, China will allow Australian service suppliers to provide technical consulting and field services in coal bed methane and shale gas extraction.
China has also guaranteed access for consulting services related to exploiting oil and gas resources, as well as iron, copper and manganese resources in cooperation with Chinese partners.
Architecture and urban planning services

In the best offer China has made to a FTA partner, China will take into account Australian experience in assessing applications for higher-level qualifications, allowing Australian architectural and urban planning firms to obtain more expansive business licences to undertake higher-value projects in China.
Transport services

In the best offer China has made to a FTA partner, China will permit Australian maritime transport service suppliers to establish wholly Australian-owned ship management enterprises in the SFTZ.
China has also provided Australia commitments equivalent to the best it has provided to any other trade partner on air transport services, including the coverage of ground handling, airport operation and specialty air services.
Other services sectors

Australian providers will benefit from new Chinese commitments allowing them to offer a range of services, including through subsidiaries based in China that can be wholly Australian-owned, in the following sectors: software implementation, research and development, services incidental to manufacturing, building cleaning, printing of packaging materials, translation and interpretation services, real estate, and environmental services.
Business and skilled worker mobility

ChAFTA will support increased trade and investment between the two countries by reducing barriers to labour mobility and improving temporary entry access within the context of each country’s existing immigration and employment frameworks and safeguards.

ChAFTA will provide improved access for a range of Australian and Chinese skilled service providers, investors and business visitors, supporting investment and providing business with greater certainty. Innovative new Investment Facilitation Arrangements (IFAs), which will operate within the framework of Australia’s existing visa system, will also provide greater flexibilities for companies to respond to unique economic and labour market challenges. IFAs will be available for large infrastructure projects above $150 million, strengthening investment in this key area and leading to the creation of jobs and increased economic prosperity for all Australians.

Investment

Chinese investment in Australia has been growing strongly in recent years up from $3 billion, 10 years ago, to around $32 billion today. Total Chinese investment in Australia is now nearly as much as the total Chinese investment in the United States. Increasing numbers of Australian businesses are entering the Chinese market with great success, with banking and wealth management the leading sector of Australian direct investment in China. ChAFTA improves opportunities for investors in both countries.

ChAFTA will promote further growth of Chinese investment into Australia, in particular by raising the screening threshold at which investments in non-sensitive sectors by private sector entities from China are considered by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) from $248 million to $1,078 million.

The Government has retained the ability to screen Chinese investments at lower thresholds for sensitive sectors, including: media, telecommunications and defence-related industries. Consistent with the promise made by the Coalition at the last election, the Government will be able to screen investment proposals by private investors from China in agricultural land valued from $15 million and agribusiness from $53 million.

FIRB will continue to screen all investment by Chinese State-Owned Enterprises, regardless of the transaction size. ChAFTA does not change these arrangements in any way.

The investment obligations in ChAFTA can be enforced directly by Australian and Chinese investors through an Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, helping to promote investor confidence. The ISDS mechanism includes safeguards to protect governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest and pursue legitimate public welfare objectives such as public health, safety and the environment.

A range of China’s services market access commitments relating to the delivery of services in China through the establishment of a commercial presence represent a significant improvement in the investment environment for Australian services firms.

Work and Holiday Arrangement

Alongside ChAFTA, Australia and China have also completed negotiations on a Work and Holiday Arrangement (WHA) under which Australia will grant visas for up to 5,000 Chinese work and holiday makers annually. The WHA will increase demand for tourism services and support the development of Australia’s tourism sector, particularly in rural Australia.

Other outcomes

ChAFTA includes additional commitments which:

Provide a framework for the growth of electronic commerce between Australia and China.
Reaffirm existing international intellectual property obligations and provide a framework for future cooperation.
Promote cooperation and coordination between relevant agencies on competition policy.
Provide for future negotiations on access to China’s government procurement market.
Facilitate trade through streamlined customs processes.
For detailed information on the outcomes of the Agreement, visit Understanding the Agreement.

The Australian dollar fell to a five-and-a-half-year low (AEDT) this morning.
The ABC reports that the dollar dipped as low as $US 80.52 cents before rising slightly to 80.7 cents at 10:50 am (AEDT).
Soft commodity prices and the resurgent US dollar have been given as reasons for the Aussie’s fall.
“The key theme in the new year has been US dollar strength and that has been represented in declines in most other currencies,” Fairfax reports Bank of New Zealand strategist Kymberly Martin as saying.
In a statement accompanying the Australian Industry Group’s PMI result release for December, chief executive Innes Willox said the dollar’s fall has been welcomed by the industry, but remains at a level that allows for strong competition from imports.
The ABC notes that analysts at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country’s largest bank, expect the dollar to slip to $US 78 cents by the end of March and then dip as far as 73 cents by the end of June.