Simone Tomaz on aftermarket success

At 5:00 a.m., while Perth is still sleeping, Simone Tomaz is already at the gym, preparing for another day at Sandvik. The Vice President of Aftermarket leads a business unit that delivers a significant part of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions revenue in Oceania. “We identify equipment failures before they become critical, ensuring customers maximize production with existing equipment. We’re partners in their success-, not just suppliers,” she says.

Enhancing operations with aftermarket support

Parts, services and consumables include a comprehensive suite of services from technical support and process optimization to product upgrades and equipment refurbishment. The services are essential to keeping mining operations run smoothly. “Our team has an extended scope compared to traditional aftersales teams. In addition to the usual technical sales, we have project management, services, and engineering teams. Combining those areas aligns us more with our customers’ needs,” says Tomaz.

In today’s mining landscape, where companies focus on “doing more with less,” Tomaz sees significant growth potential.

We’re targeting expansion in screening media, field services, and spare components.

Through refurbishment of screens, exciters, and equipment, her team helps deliver optimal performance throughout each asset’s life cycle.

“Sustainability is a company-wide effort, and our teams are on the front lines of making a difference. We’re driving material circularity initiatives and contributing to energy savings through improved equipment performance,” says Tomaz.

The aftermarket team is dedicated to maintaining equipment performance long after the initial purchase.

“The continued decline in mineral ore grades means operations need to process more equipment capacity. We’re also seeing increased focus on predictive maintenance and remote monitoring – areas where our engineering expertise provides significant advantages.”

A personal and professional journey

Growing up in Brazil in a family of mechanical trades, Tomaz was immersed in engineering from an early age. Surrounded by mechanical parts, she learned the craft through hands-on experience with welding, painting, and assembly. While her three brothers followed the family tradition of becoming mechanics, Tomaz took a different path. She was the first in her family to pursue a university education.

Her journey includes roles across Sandvik departments, time spent in China, and valuable experience at BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies. This diverse background influences her leadership approach and her advice for aspiring leaders is to: “Build diversity inside you through different experiences and roles. You can only connect with people if you connect on the same level – no hierarchies, just treating everyone as a human being.”

Balancing leadership and family life

Living in Perth with her husband (whom she met while working at Sandvik in China) and two young daughters, Tomaz balances leadership responsibilities with family life through structured routines. Her 5 a.m. gym sessions mark the beginning of her day.

“The discipline required in both professional and personal life is similar,” says Tomaz. “It’s about priorities and having the right support system. My husband is essential to how we manage our household. We approach family tasks practically – school preparation, meals, logistics – with the same collaborative mindset I apply at work.”