The study aims to explore the use of manufacturing management and improvement methodologies in the southern African mining industry. Considering the unique challenges associated with mining operations, attention is given to the applicability of the most commonly used manufacturing methodologies in the tactical, operational, and strategic environments. The article endeavours to stimulate more research and debate in an unexplored field of study.The study was conducted in two parts. Firstly, a questionnaire was circulated to 50 operational mines to establish how widely manufacturing methods are applied in the industry, which element(s) of the profit equation currently receives the most attention, and which methods are favoured. In the second part of the study, the database of the Mineral Resource Throughput Management (MRTM) programme, a Masters degree programme presented through the Geology Department of the University of the Free State (UFS), was consulted regarding the application of systemic flow-based principles at some of the mining operations evaluated.Inputs were received from small-to largescale operators in the precious metal (Pt, Au), ferrous metals (Fe, Mn, Cr), base metals (Pb/Zn, Cu), coal, and diamond industries, operating mainly in southern Africa.Strike actions in the industry, lower prices driven by lower demand from China, and increasing costs, among other reasons (PWC, 2014), have focused the attention of most mining operators on means to end and turn around the downward performance spiral experienced in recent years. In fact, the mining industry is expected to bring about a step change in performance through bold actions, new ways of thinking, and implementing innovative management methods and technologies (Mining Weekly, 2014).Some mining operators and consulting firms in the mining industry are now again turning to management and improvement methods developed in and for the manufacturing sector in an attempt to resuscitate the industry. A case in point is a global mining operator with extensive interests in southern Africa that intends to adopt principles from manufacturing methodologies such as Lean Production and Six Sigma in order to establish a business environment that 'delivers continuous improvement (CI) on budget' (Anglo American, 2014). It is Application of manufacturing management and improvement methodologies in the southern African mining industry by J.O. Claassen* A study conducted at 22 operating mines in the southern African region indicated that each mine employs about five management and improvement methods with roots in the manufacturing industry. All respondents reported the implementation of cost-saving initiatives, whereas 80% of the mines are affected by restructuring. TQM, Six Sigma, BPM, and TOC were found to be the most prevalent manufacturing management and improvement methods used. A mechanistic vs systemic evaluation of the suitability of these methods to bring about positive change in the industry suggested that complex, ever-changing mining systems are better ser...