​​​ 3.3 Assessment Tasks ASSESSMENT TASK 1  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 Aligned course &  SLO2: Explain the fundamentals of operations management and the seamless subject learning integration between inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics and the outcomes customer  SLO4: Describe the strategic tangible assets of a firm, the value chain, and explain how to harmonise the value chain to achieve  SLO5a & b: Create an environment for cooperative and constructive working relationships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds Group or individual Individual Weighting / Length 25%: 3000 words (+/- 10%) Due date TBA ASSESSMENT TASK 1: DESCRIPTION Your assignment is to: Appraise the strategic direction Rio Tinto is taking with their 'Mine of the Future' project within a framework of the theories and concepts studied in LB5230 Managing Strategic Resources and Operations (ch's 1 to 5 in particular from the text book, combined with evidence and statistics from the McKinsey Global Institute paper on 'Disruptive Technologies'). Additional resources can be accessed from the material in this study guide and business related sites in general. College of Business, Law & GovernanceLB5230:03 Managing Strategic Resources and Operations Page 10 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 alone. A suggested pro-forma for this strategic operations based first assignment would be: I. Who is Rio Tinto? § Provide a snapshot of Rio Tinto the company globally, and then focus on the Iron Ore business unit in Western Australia II. Recent history and evolution of the "Mine of the Future" concept § Where did the concept originate and what is its strategic intent? III. Status of the components that currently make up the "Mine of the Future" Iron Ore project § 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 § Identify and elaborate on sustainability aspects of Rio Tinto iron ore operations, supply chain and global logistics footprint College of Business, Law & GovernanceLB5230:03 Managing Strategic Resources and Operations Page 11 V. Where is the intersection of strategy, operations, technology and mining of our mineral natural resources heading over the coming decade? § Identify future trends around managing strategic resources and operations in: § Australia § Globally