Importance of Implementing Management and Process Improvement in Mining Industry: BHP Billiton

Running Head: MANAGEMENT 1
Importance of implementing management and process improvement in Mining
industry: BHP BILLITION

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction........................................................................................................................3
1.1 Problem statement...........................................................................................................4
1.2 Aim and objectives...........................................................................................................4
1.3 Research questions..........................................................................................................5
1.4 Justification and potential output of the research.........................................................5
2.0 Conceptual framework and hypothesis development.....................................................5
2.1 Hypothesis development..................................................................................................5
2.2 Literature Review.............................................................................................................5
2.2.1 Defining continuous improvement.............................................................................5
2.2.2 Continuous improvement of processes......................................................................7
2.2.3 Theory of Constraints................................................................................................8
3.0 Methodology.....................................................................................................................10
3.1 Data collection methods.................................................................................................10
3.2 Sources of Data..............................................................................................................11
4.0 Organisation of the study................................................................................................12
5.0 Project budget...................................................................................................................13
6.0 Schedule............................................................................................................................13
References...............................................................................................................................15

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1.0 Introduction
BHP Billiton’s business is related to discovering, developing, converting as well as
selling natural resources. The company is working in around 25 countries all over the world
(BHP Billiton: The future is yours, 2018). The business depicts the different diversification
across geographic regions and markets. The company is among the top producers of the
world, and supply critical commodities like energy coal, aluminium, copper, iron ore,
metallurgical coal, uranium, silver and titanium minerals, nickel, manganese, along with gas
and oil (Anand, Ward, Tatikonda & Schilling, 2009). For around 150 years, the company is
contributing and developing communities, industry, and economies around the world. The
root trace of Billiton in 1860 as well as tin mine over the Indonesia Island, while the varied
and rich history of BHP started with lead, silver and zinc mine in Australia (BHP Billiton:
The future is yours, 2018). In the year 2001, the company is developed through a merger with
BHP Limited and Billiton Plc (Anand, Ward, Tatikonda & Schilling, 2009). Its headquarters
are located at London and Melbourne. Both the companies exist as different, and operate in
combination, by BHP Billiton.
Mineral extraction, as well as processing, depict the similar activity of enterprise
related to particular risks. Mining companies are highly oriented towards the capital
valorisation, profit, company assets augmentation, maintaining market position, along with
different objectives (Anand, Ward, Tatikonda & Schilling, 2009). Achieving prominent goals
in the present market condition, features through change and competition is quite challenging
if the modern methods of management are not implemented. Continuous process
improvement is essential in the intense competition in the market as well as the emergence of
low-cost operations to prevailing (Anand, Ward, Tatikonda & Schilling, 2009). The
international financial crisis along with associated worldwide recessions have both directly or

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indirectly afflicted, and it’s referred as no exception. In various countries of the world,
mining is an essential contributor to the economy, along with this, it’s also subjected towards
the demand and supply of unfavourable movement of cost, and inconsistency of demand and
supply. No matter what’s the reason for the reduction in income, there is no doubt that the
managers should try to optimize the cost of production (Baaij, Greeven & Van Dalen, 2004).
In such challenging situations, the company should try to keep up with its market position
and work towards managing and improving the process.
1.1 Problem statement
To deliver sustainable performance, it is essential to maintain the improvement the
process of the mining company. In case of extraction of natural resources, it is crucial that
quality process should be selected that can help in the effective removal of resources, which
is appropriately processed with a set type of quality method (Bessant, Caffyn & Maeve,
2001). Regular quality check and useful technique can help in continuous process
improvement. This research will analyse the importance of management and growth of the
process.
1.2 Aim and objectives
Aim
This research aims to discuss the significance of managing and implementing process
improvement at BHP Billiton, which is a mining company.
Objectives
 To identify the methods of managing and improving the process in the mining
industry