ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
ABARE survey of
businesses in Australia’s
mining technology services sector
Survey conducted for an ABARE research project
funded by the Commonwealth Department of
Industry, Tourism and Resources
ABARE project 2679
For office use only
Date received:
Company name:
Company identifier:
11 March 2002
Commonwealth Government Statistical Clearing House Approval Number 01145–01
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
Contents
1.
2.
Background
3
Mining Technology Services Action Agenda
Scope of the ABARE survey
Key ABARE contacts
References
3
4
4
5
Questionnaire
6
Australian MTS production and exports
Employment, education and training
Research and development
Internet commerce, promotion and marketing
Competitiveness and other issues
Commonwealth Government Statistical Clearing House Approval Number 01145–01
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
1. Background
ABARE is conducting a survey of businesses in Australia’s mining technology services
(MTS) sector on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and
Resources. The information collected through this survey will be used in the Mining
Technology Services Action Agenda (MTSAA) process. This survey represents the first
major review of the Australian MTS sector and we would greatly value your participation.
Mining Technology Services Action Agenda
On 6 June 2001, Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin, the then Minister for Industry, Science and
Resources, announced the development of the Mining Technology Services Action Agenda.
Action Agendas are a major element of the Commonwealth government’s long term strategy
to develop Australian industry over the next decade. They are designed to build a dynamic
partnership between industry and government, with the goal of promoting sustainable
economic growth. Information on completed and current Action Agendas is available on the
website for the (recently renamed) Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and
Resources, www.industry.gov.au/agendas.
The key objective of the Mining Technology Services Action Agenda is to develop an agreed
framework for action by industry and government to build on growth and export opportunities
in Australia’s mining technology services (MTS) sector. In particular, the Action Agenda will
ensure that impediments to growth are identified and addressed. There are five critical
elements in the Action Agenda process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Future opportunities and growth;
Strategic analysis of competitive position;
Capturing growth;
Action priorities and responsibilities; and
Timetable and progress reporting/evaluation.
The Mining Technology Services Action Agenda will be progressed by the Strategic Leaders
Group (SLG). The SLG is broadly representative of the MTS sector, and includes software
designers/manufacturers, research organisations, mining companies, industry associations,
consultants and the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
The Action Agenda will focus on five key areas that impact on the sustainable development of
the MTS sector.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Response to the globalisation challenge.
Technology, and research and development coordination.
Improving industry market share and competitiveness
Education and training.
Promotion and marketing.
Working groups have been established to consider the impediments facing the MTS sector in
each of these key focus areas, drawing on expertise within the SLG as well as the wider MTS
community. Each working group is encouraging input by interested parties (see
Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources 2001, 2002a,b).
Commonwealth Government Statistical Clearing House Approval Number 01145–01
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
Scope of the ABARE survey
A major role of the ABARE survey is to assess the scope of the MTS sector and provide a
solid base on which the Action Agenda can develop.
In this study, the MTS sector is defined in general terms to comprise technology based
businesses that service the mining sector (excluding petroleum) which includes mineral
exploration, mining and basic mineral processing activities.
The MTS sector includes:



products that may be based on information and communications technologies (ICT)
which comprises computers, software, telecommunications equipment and related
electronic components;
products that incorporate other scientific, technical or engineering based
technologies such as automated and remote control technologies; and
services that provide expertise within these technology areas on a fee or contract
basis, including for example technical consulting and training.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not recognise, or publish data corresponding
to, the MTS sector. The current Australian and New Zealand standard industry classification
(ANZSIC) is documented in Australian Bureau of Statistics/NZ Department of Statistics
(1993). MTS businesses are currently classified by the ABS under a range of industries.
The ABARE survey includes a range of qualitative and quantitative questions relevant to the
MTS Action Agenda. The ABARE survey is voluntary. However, the survey is a key
mechanism by which the Commonwealth government will obtain important economic and
policy information on the Australian MTS sector and we would very much appreciate your
participation. The survey results will be included in an ABARE research report due to be
released by October 2002. The survey results will not be published or released in a form
that will identify individuals or their businesses. For more information about ABARE,
please refer to our website www.abareconomics.com.
Key ABARE contacts
Please return the completed questionnaire, preferably by email, by Thursday 28 March
2002 to:
Alan Copeland
Australian Minerals and Energy Issues Section, ABARE
Postal address: GPO Box 1563, Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone:
02 6272 2301
Email:
mts.project@abare.gov.au
Fax:
1800 636 275 (toll free)
The completed questionnaire may also be returned by fax or post. Any queries regarding the
survey may be directed to Alan Copeland or Leanna Tedesco (telephone: 02 6272 2295). If
Alan and Leanna are unavailable, queries may also be directed to Lindsay Hogan (telephone:
02 6272 2034).
Commonwealth Government Statistical Clearing House Approval Number 01145–01
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics/NZ Department of Statistics 1993, Australian and New
Zealand Standard Industrial Classification ANZSIC, ABS catalogue no. 1292.0, Canberra.
Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources 2001, Mining Technology
Services Action Agenda Newsletter No. 1, Canberra, December.
____ 2002a, Mining Technology Services Action Agenda Newsletter No. 2, Canberra, March.
____ 2002b, Mining Technology Services Action Agenda: Background Paper on Issues
Affecting the Sector, Canberra, February.
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
2. Questionnaire
Company name:
ABN number:
Company website:
Contact person:
Job title:
Postal address:
Telephone:
Email:
Fax:
Please note that several questions ask for a number based on the following scale:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Not important or not applicable
Of minor importance
Fairly important
Important
Very important
Australian MTS production and exports
Q1
In 2000-01, did your company produce MTS goods and services in Australia?
Y/N
______
If you answered no to question 1, please go to the final question. Otherwise, go to question 2.
Q2
Using the above scale, please indicate the importance of each of the following
categories in relation to the market value of your company’s Australian production of
MTS goods and services in 2000-01 (the corresponding 3 digit ANZSIC code is
provided in brackets).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Exploration and other mining services, including contract exploration
and mining services (ANZSIC codes 151 and 152)
______
Machinery and equipment manufacturing, including scientific,
electronic and other machinery and equipment but excluding heavy
machinery and equipment (ANZSIC codes 283-286)
______
Construction services, including minesite preparation
(ANZSIC code 421)
______
Scientific research services (ANZSIC code 781)
______
Technical services, including surveying, consultant engineering and other
technical services (ANZSIC code 782)
______
Computer services, including data processing, information storage and
retrieval services, computer maintenance and computer consultancy
services (ANZSIC code 783)
______
Other (please specify, including the ANZSIC code if possible)
______
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
Q3
Using the above scale, please indicate the importance of the following mining activities
in relation to users of your company’s Australian production of MTS goods and
services in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
Exploration
Feasibility studies
Mine construction
Surface mining
Underground mining
Processing
Bulk handling
Environment
Promotion and marketing
Occupational health and safety
Education and training
Research and development
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Q4
Using the above scale, please indicate the importance of the following types of mineral
resources in relation to users of your company’s Australian production of MTS goods
and services in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Bauxite
Base metals (copper, lead, zinc)
Coal
Gold
Iron ore
Mineral sands
Nickel
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Q5
What is the actual or forecast gross revenue from sales of your company’s Australian
produced MTS goods and services (if not operating in any year, record as 0):
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Q6
in 1995-96?
in 2000-01?
in 2001-02?
in 2005-06?
A$million
A$million
A$million
A$million
______
______
______
______
In 2000-01, what percentage did MTS goods and services represent in the gross revenue
from your company’s total sales of Australian produced goods and services?
%
______
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ABARE SURVEY OF MTS SECTOR
Q7
In 2000-01, what percentage of the gross revenue from sales of your company’s
Australian produced MTS goods and services was from:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Q8
%
%
%
%
______
______
______
______
%
______
Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of each state/territory in relation to the location of your company’s
Australian production of MTS goods and services in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Q9
direct sales to exploration/mining companies?
sales to contractors?
sales to wholesale trade companies?
sales to manufacturers?
other? (Please specify)
New South Wales (including the ACT)
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following areas in relation to the location of your company’s
Australian production of MTS goods and services in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Capital cities
Regional centres
Remote areas
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
Q10 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following factors in influencing your company’s location choices for
its Australian MTS business operations in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
Proximity to other MTS companies
Proximity to major Australian customers in the mining sector
Proximity to other major Australian customers
Proximity to specialised labour resources
Proximity to, or part of, university/research institutions
MTS operations part of larger business
State/territory government policies
Other government arrangements
Lifestyle choice
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
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Q11 What is the actual or forecast gross revenue from your company’s export sales of MTS
goods and services from Australia (if not operating in any year, record as 0):
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
in 1995-96?
in 2000-01?
in 2001-02?
in 2005-06?
A$million
A$million
A$million
A$million
______
______
______
______
Q12 Please indicate the share of each of the following regions in relation to your Australian
export sales of MTS goods and services in 2000-01 (noting that the shares should sum
to 100 per cent).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(f)
(f)
(h)
Central and South America
North America
Africa
E and SE Asia (including China and the Pacific)
Other Asia (including the Russian Federation and other
countries in NW Asia)
Europe
Middle East
%
%
%
%
______
______
______
______
%
%
%
______
______
______
Employment, education and training
Q13 In 2000-01, what was your company’s labour force relating to Australian production of
MTS goods and services (on a full time equivalent basis)?
Person years
______
Q14 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following occupations in your company’s Australian MTS business
operations in 2000-01.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Computer science specialists
Engineers (including metallurgists)
Geologists and other earth scientists
Other professionals
Tradespersons and related workers
Managers and administrators
Clerical, sales and service workers
Production, transport, labourers and related workers
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Q15 The National Mining Industry Training Advisory Board (NMITAB) provides the
mining and extractive industry with a vocational education and training program. Please
respond to the following questions with yes, no or uncertain (Y/N/U).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Are you aware of the NMITAB?
Have you used the NMITAB?
Would you consider using the NMITAB in the future?
Do you think there is a role for industry sponsorship of courses?
Y/N/U
Y/N/U
Y/N/U
Y/N/U
______
______
______
______
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Q16 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following factors for employment, education and training in
Australia’s MTS sector.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
High turnover of staff with specialist skills
______
Difficulties in recruiting staff with specialist skills in Australia
______
Difficulties in recruiting staff with specialist skills from overseas
Difficulties with Australia’s visa arrangements for overseas recruitment ______
Possibility of a skills shortage over the next 5 to 10 years
______
Lack of opportunities for relevant industry training in Australia
______
Need to improve coordination of existing training programs
______
Need to improve information dissemination about existing training programs
______
Other (please specify)
______
Research and development
Q17 In 2000-01, what was your company’s research and development expenditure in
Australia relating to MTS goods and services?
A$million
______
Q18 In 2000-01, did your company undertake any research and development projects in
Australia relating to MTS goods and services in collaboration with other organisations?
Y/N
______
If you answered no to question 18, please go to question 20. Otherwise, go to question 19.
Q19 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following organisations in your collaborative MTS research and
development projects?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
CSIRO
Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs)
Universities
Other research organisations
Exploration/mining companies
Other companies
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Q20 In 2000-01, did your company fund any external research and development projects
relevant to your MTS operations in Australia?
Y/N
______
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Q21 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following mechanisms for protecting the competitive advantage of
your company’s innovations (new or improved products or processes).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Patents to prevent duplication
______
Patents to secure royalty income
______
Secrecy
______
Lead time
______
Moving quickly up the learning curve to reduce production or other costs ______
Sales or service efforts
______
Other (please specify)
______
Q22 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following possible issues for research and development in Australia’s
MTS sector.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Low retention of intellectual property in Australia
Low rates of commercialisation of Australian ideas in Australia
Research and development expenditure taxation concession
Access to public research organisations
Access to finance
Availability of staff with specialist skills
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Internet commerce, promotion and marketing
Q23 In 2000-01, what percentage of your company’s gross revenue from sales of Australian
produced MTS goods and services was earned from internet commerce transactions?
%
______
Q24 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following methods of promoting and marketing your company’s
Australian MTS goods and services.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(j)
(k)
Internet
Email
Buyers’ guides
Advertising in industry magazines and journals
Advertising at industry and other conferences
Potential customer mail out
Industry associations
Industry assisted marketing schemes (such as Austmine)
Government assisted marketing schemes (such as trade departments)
Advertising in newspapers, on television or radio
Personal contacts
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
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Q25 In 2000-01, what percentage of your company’s inputs (cost basis) used in the
Australian production of MTS goods and services was sourced from internet commerce
transactions?
%
______
Competitiveness and other issues
Q26 Using the scale provided at the beginning of the questionnaire, please indicate the
importance of the following factors as possible sources of your company’s competitive
advantage in the production and exports of MTS goods and services.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
Management skills
Intellectual capital
Training/education opportunities
Research and development strategies
Use of information and communications technologies
Access to finance
Access to, and familiarity with, Australian markets
Access to, and familiarity with, overseas markets
Promotion and marketing strategies
Reliability as a supplier of MTS goods and services
Quality of MTS goods and services
Other (please specify)
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Q27 What do you think are the major issues relating to Australia’s MTS sector that you
recommend should be considered as part of the MTS Action Agenda process?
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Q28 As at 30 June 2001, what percentage of your company was Australian owned?
%
______
Q29 Would your company be interested in being involved in workshops related to issues
identified by the Mining Technology Services Action Agenda process?
Y/N
______
Q30 Would you like to make any additional comments regarding the MTS sector, the MTS
Action Agenda or this survey?
Q31 Please provide an estimate of the time taken to complete this questionnaire (include
time spent reading instructions and preparing responses, but do not include any time spent
reading the background paper provided by the Commonwealth Department of Industry,
Tourism and Resources).
Minutes
______
Please return the questionnaire to ABARE using the contact information provided on page 4.
Thank you for participating in this survey. We will inform you when the ABARE report
is released and provide you with a summary paper.
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