As the modification of the 2009 Mill Operators' Conference theme from milling through the boom' to the boom - experience gained and lessons learned' exemplifies, comminution practitioners are facing a series of challenges in the dramatically changing mining environment. One of the main problems plant managers have been facing during the boom times has been the severe metallurgy skills shortage and high staff turnover, both factors that can cause difficulties in mill liner management. Many of today's mill managers are now also more than ever faced with the need for cost-cutting in order to continue operating viably. Amongst other potential target outcomes such as maximised throughput, MillMapper, a tool for mill condition monitoring and mill performance optimisation, can be utilised to address these issues._x000D_
This paper demonstrates how MillMapper's quantifying decision making tools can serve to be in control of managing mill liner and production issues, and how it can form the basis for mill cost savings without the risks normally associated with conventional methods or the lack of using any condition monitoring methods. MillMapper is currently being referred to at a rate of approximately 150 surveys and associated reports per annum at processing plants in Australasia, South America and Africa. Examples throughout the paper provide insight into how the presented sample set of users have extracted benefits that could have otherwise not been safely or at all achieved.