Event Series Overview: Total Cost of Ownership in Practice
HunterNet is proud to present a three-part Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Forum Series, designed for manufacturing and business leaders responsible for asset acquisition, operational management, and strategic investment decisions. This series will provide participants with a holistic understanding of TCO – from financial modelling and operational considerations to qualitative insights and practical use cases.
By attending, members will gain actionable strategies to:
- Evaluate asset investments with a structured, financially sound approach.
- Understand operational drivers that influence total costs over an asset’s life cycle.
- Leverage qualitative TCO considerations to communicate value and differentiate in procurement decisions.
This series is ideal for executives, operational managers, finance and procurement professionals, engineers, and SMEs looking to improve decision-making processes and asset management practices.
​Session 1: TCO Financial Overlay
Overview:
This session explores TCO from the financial perspective, including insights from analysts and lenders. Participants will learn how to structure quantitative financial analysis to support future investment decisions, model TCO across different scenarios, and effectively communicate with executive teams, boards, and lenders.
Agenda:
- Topic Introduction
- Top 5 TCO Financial Advisor/Accounting Considerations & Banking/Lenderer Considerations – Steph Loadsman – KPMG, Michelle Smith – CBA
- Member Use Cases​
- Q&AÂ
When:Â Thursday 26 February
Where:Â HunterNet Officer – 102/470 King St, Newcastle West
Time:Â 8:00am to 9:30am
Session 2: TCO Operational Considerations
Overview:
Operational costs form a significant portion of TCO. This session will cover acquisition, operational, maintenance, and end-of-life costs, highlighting how operational teams influence overall asset costs and decision-making. Participants will gain insight into cost drivers across the full asset lifecycle.
Agenda Topics:
- Acquisition Costs:Â Base purchase price, engineering/design/customisation, procurement overhead, testing, certification, compliance
- Operating Costs:Â Energy/fuel, consumables/spares, labour/staffing, training requirements
- Maintenance & Sustainment:Â Scheduled/unscheduled maintenance, diagnostics, mid-life upgrades, warranties/support contracts, supply chain resilience
- End-of-Life Costs:Â Disposal, decommissioning, environmental compliance, recycling/resale
- ​Member Use Cases​
When:Â Thursday 21 May
​Where: HunterNet Officer – 102/470 King St, Newcastle West
Time:Â 8:00am to 9:30am
​
Session 3: TCO Qualitative Considerations & Practical Examples
Overview: TCO extends beyond numbers—qualitative factors often influence purchase and investment decisions significantly. This session will explore unique sector-specific factors, sustainability, software, and communication strategies, and provide real-world use cases from members. Attendees will leave equipped to leverage TCO as a strategic decision-making and value communication tool.
Agenda Topics:
- Unique Environment & Sector-Specific Factors:Â Defence & sovereign industry, manufacturing SMEs, sustainability, software implementation and licensing
- TCO Communication Skills:Â Explaining TCO to price-focused customers, justifying upfront costs with lifecycle value, integrating TCO in proposals/tenders
- Use Cases:Â Member examples highlighting challenges, weighted criteria, strategic trade-offs, and long-term asset managementWhen:Â Thursday 23 August
​​Where: HunterNet Officer – 102/470 King St, Newcastle West
​Time: 8:00am to 9:30am
Register for Series 1 here https://crowdcatcher.com/e/event-series-total-cost-of-ownership-tco-in-practice–session-1-financial-overlay-tickets-JxXiOAsBVJ
