PRECISE CORPORATION, formerly Precise Maintenance, was established in 1999 and has grown to become one of Australia’s premier, privately owned and respected maintenance, compliance, inspection and human resource companies servicing the local mining industry.
Company founder, owner and director Ashleigh Rowe began his career as a sole trader and grew Precise into a large corporation in a relatively short time. Starting his first job at 14 changing tyres in a workshop, Ashleigh gained an automotive apprenticeship in Gladstone before extending his training to include diesel fitting and heavy equipment repairs on mining equipment.
Qualified at 19, Ashleigh began working around the country which saw him head to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Constantly learning and gaining experience in every industry possible, Ashleigh returned to Queensland after accepting a resident field service position. The position required Ashleigh maintain heavy equipment on various mine sites throughout the Bowen Basin, where he observed a major shortage and high demand for skilled tradespeople, creating an opportunity and foresight to establish Precise.
Precise has now been in business for more than 20 years and at the peak of the labour hire boom, employed more than 150 people. At that time, Precise had a monthly turnover over in excess of two million dollars. While the economic downturn in the Mackay region has been Ashleigh’s toughest challenge to date, this created an opportunity to relocate Precise to City Gates, Mackay – where the Bruce Highway and Peak Downs Highway intersect. Now holding the most prominent position geographically in the area, combined with a core group of dedicated staff and reduced overheads, Precise offers both the best service and price.
Many highs and lows, both professionally and personally, have contributed to Ashleigh gaining a firsthand understanding of business in the resource sector. Ashleigh made the decision to consolidate all previous divisions of Precise and adopt a ‘back to basics’ approach – the person who owns the business runs the business – which has been well received by suppliers, clients, employees and supporters. Precise remains 100% privately owned and guarantees the continued support of local communities through sponsorship, donations, employment and support of other local businesses.