Aligned course & subject learning outcomes • CLO1: Demonstrate essential knowledge necessary for a career in business related professions • CLO2: Apply critical thinking to address issues in business • CLO3: Convey information clearly and fluently, in high quality written form appropriate for their audiences • SLO1: Describe the strategic tangible assets of a firm, the value chain, and explain how to harmonise the value chain to achieve strategic outcomes • SLO2: Explain the fundamentals of operations management and the seamless integration between inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics and the customer • SLO3: Evaluate the reasons behind the growth of green logistics and sustainable supply chains • SLO5a & b: Create an environment for cooperative and constructive working relationships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds Group or individual Group (Up to 4 students) Weighting / Length 50%: 4500 words (+/- 10%) Due date Week 12 (Friday 20/2/2015) ASSESSMENT TASK 2 DESCRIPTION Your case study assignment is to: ‘Critique’ the direction Rio Tinto is taking with their ‘Mine of the Future’ project with the theories and concepts studied in: LB5230 Managing Strategic Resources and Operations and information from the McKinsey Global Institute paper on: Disruptive technologies, advances that will transform life, business and the global economy (May 2013). From section 2.5 – recommended journals Figure 1.1 positions Rio Tinto Iron Ore ‘mine of the future’ project within the Iron Ore business unit in Western Australia (Rio Tinto 2013): Figure 1.1: Rio Tinto Mine of the Future Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and New York Stock Exchange listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, thermal and metallurgical coal, uranium, gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore. Activities span the world and are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America (Rio Tinto 2013). Rio Tinto Pilbara operations – including a world-class, integrated network of 15 iron ore mines, three port facilities, a 1,500 kilometre rail network and related infrastructure – are designed to respond rapidly to changes in demand, supported by our Operations Centre in Perth. We’re expanding our operations in the Pilbara to epic proportions while introducing next generation technologies to deliver greater efficiency, lower production costs and improve health, safety and environmental performance. We employ more than 12,500 people in our Western Australian iron ore business. In 2014, we have welcomed 66 new graduates, of whom 29 per cent are women and 24 per cent are from emerging regions with seven per cent being Indigenous (Rio Tinto Pilbara 2014). A suggested pro-forma for the body of the assignment would be: Title page – including details of all group members. Executive Summary – Summary of research and analysis. Table of Contents Introduction – Purpose of this report and introduce the following topics. I. Who is Rio Tinto? (Approx. 500 words).  Provide a snapshot of Rio Tinto the company globally, and then focus on the Iron Ore business unit in Western Australia.  Analyse the value chain, market forces and strategies. II. Recent history and evolution of the “Mine of the Future” concept (Approx. 700 words).  Explain the strategic intent, evolution and concept milestones of this project.  Analyse the operational strategy and use of strategic resources to achieve a global supply chain advantage. III. Status of the components of the “Mine of the Future” Iron Ore project (Approx. 1700 words).  Analyse the status of the project building blocks and their associated timeframe for operationalising the strategic intent. Analyse the operational and strategic benefits of each components following;  Perth control centre  Mine site based • Trucks • Loaders • Process and wash plants  Port based • Trains • Ship loaders  Other? IV. Sustainable mining and logistics within Rio Tinto (Approx. 900 words).  Identify, analyse and elaborate on sustainability aspects of Rio Tinto iron ore operations, supply chain and global logistics footprint V. Where is the intersection of strategy, technology and mining of our resources heading? (Approx. 700 words).  Identify future trends around managing strategic resources and operations and global logistics in:  Australia  Globally References (APA style) Appendices Sites that may assist you in your assignment research are:  What does my lecturer mean by ‘critique an article’: http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/OffCampus/Improve/9.2.html  Writing a critique: http://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/write/critique.jsp  Rio Tinto Australia http://www.riotinto.com/australia-9559.aspx  Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara http://www.riotinto.com/ironore/pilbara-4691.aspx  Rio Tinto Mine of the Future Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Col_MPuELfA  Big data results in big savings for Rio Tinto http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/news/big-data-results-big-savings-rio-tinto  Rio Tinto Sustainable Development
Report http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RTIO_WA_SD_REPORT_2012.pdf  Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation http://www.riotinto.com/technology-and-innovation-160.aspx  Rio Tinto Supply Chain http://www.riotinto.com/annualreport2008/performance/sustainable_dev/economic_prosperity/supply_chain/index.html  Rio Tinto, The way we Buy (our statement of procurement practice) http://procurement.riotinto.com/documents/The_way_we_buy_English_web.pdf  Rio Tinto Global Supply Chain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEsCvDHqX4  Rio Tinto Marine Website http://marine.riotinto.com/default.asp  Rio Tinto Video on Sustainable Development
http://www.riotinto.com/media/video-library-252.aspx  Disruptive technologies: Advancements that will disrupt life business and the global economy http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/business_technology/disruptive_technologies  China wants to build a 13 000km underwater train to the USA http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/china-wants-to-build-13000-kilometre-underwater-train-to-the-us/story-e6frfqb9-1226913465699