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
PS Assignment 2 is due on 12/10/2014. Please check the marking criteria sheet in the subject guide. Please ensure you do your own original analysis in the critique part of the assignment in Sections III, IV and V. Please note in this assignment where you are analysing and critiquing you are demonstrating your knowledge gained in this subject so relate to this subject concepts. Please note an assignment that only includes referenced material and analysis performed by another source or too little of your own analysis will not receive a passing mark.
Marking Guide
How to make it:
A suggested pro-forma for the body of the 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
V. Where is the intersection of strategy, technology and mining of our resources heading?
? Identify future trends around managing strategic resources and operations and global logistics in:
? Australia
? Globally

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