TRANSACTION PAPER

Business improvement in the mining and metals industry

A.O. Filmer

Filmer Consulting, tonyfilmer@optusnet.com.au

SYNOPSIS

In the mining and metals industry, business strategy demands that leaders extract more from any set of capital assets. This improvement is achieved through a combination of continuous improvement and upgrading of the assets.
Continuous Improvement involves a series of incremental changes in the workplace to stabilize the process, remove waste, and test the limits of process capability.
Enhanced Technology involves the replacement of an existing asset with a different process or equipment, to achieve a similar function in a more efficient and effective manner.
The paper compares and contrasts the two methodologies and outlines the key business considerations which dictate how and when to select one or other improvement method. The paper also addresses the implications for these two improvement methods for those undertaking R&D in support of the mining and metals business.

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References

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2. LIKER, J. The Toyota Way. New York, McGraw Hill, 2003.         [ Links ]

3. PANDE, P.S., NEUMAN, R.P., and CAVANAGH, R.R. The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance. New York, McGraw Hill, 2000.         [ Links ]