Operational Sustainability in the Mining Industry: The Case of Large-Scale Open-Pit Mining (LSOPM) Operations

Preface
Acknowledgments
Contents
About the Authors
1 Introduction: Managing Large-Scale Mining Operations
	1.1 Introduction
	1.2 Mining Origin
		1.2.1 Relevance of Mining
	1.3 Mining Definitions and Processes
		1.3.1 Open-Pit and Underground Mining
		1.3.2 Life of Mines in LSOPM
		1.3.3 Feasibility of a Mining Property
		1.3.4 Block Modeling in LSOPM
		1.3.5 LSOPM Processes
		1.3.6 Mineral Processing
		1.3.7 Understanding Ore Deposits and Optimizing Mine Design for Production
	1.4 Conclusion
	1.5 Summary
	Appendix: Additional Information About Metals and Minerals
	References
2 Integrated and Advanced Information Systems in LSOPM Operations
	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 IT for Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence
		2.2.1 Current Technologies Used in Organizations
	2.3 Interrelationship of IT and Productivity Improvements in LSOPM Operations
	2.4 Interrelationship of IT and Decision-Making in LSOPM Operations
	2.5 Current and Future Application Areas for IT in LSOPM Operations
		2.5.1 Current Information Technologies
		2.5.2 Types of Technologies Required in LSOPM Operations
		2.5.3 Future Application Areas for LSOPM Operations
	2.6 Conclusion
	2.7 Summary
	Appendix: Additional Information on Information Technologies in LSOPM Operations
	References
3 Organizational Efficiencies and LSOPM Business
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Organizational Efficiencies
		3.2.1 Organizational Productivity
		3.2.2 Organizational Costs
		3.2.3 Employee Efficiency
		3.2.4 Process Efficiency
		3.2.5 Performance Efficiency
		3.2.6 Time Efficiency
	3.3 Organizational Efficiencies in Mining
		3.3.1 Productivity in Mining Operations
		3.3.2 Costs in Mining Operations
		3.3.3 Other Organizational Efficiencies in Mining
	3.4 Equipment in Mining
	3.5 Production Equipment Used for Large-Scale Open-Pit Mining Operations
	3.6 Ancillary Equipment
		3.6.1 Processing Equipment Used for LSOPM Operations
		3.6.2 Availability and Utilization of Mining Equipment
	3.7 Organizational Efficiency in LSOPM Operations
		3.7.1 Factors for Improving Productivity
		3.7.2 Key Drivers of Cost Optimization
		3.7.3 Relationship Between Productivity and Costs
		3.7.4 Role of Equipment Utilization in Productivity
	3.8 Conclusion
	3.9 Summary
	Appendix: Additional Information on Organizational Efficiencies in LSOPM Operations
	References
4 Efficient Decision-Making in LSOPM Operations
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Decision-Making Levels
		4.2.1 Types of Decisions
		4.2.2 Individual and Group Decision-Making
		4.2.3 Decision-Making Processes and Models
		4.2.4 Strategic Decision-Making
	4.3 Efficient Decision-Making Processes
		4.3.1 Effective Managerial Decision-Making
		4.3.2 Tools and Models Used for Efficient Decision-Making
		4.3.3 Techniques Used for Efficient Group Decision-Making
	4.4 Decision-Making in LSOPM Operations
		4.4.1 Faster Decision-Making
		4.4.2 Advantages of Better Decision-Making Processes
		4.4.3 The Interrelationship Between Swift Decision-Making and Productivity
	4.5 Conclusion
	4.6 Summary
	Appendix: Additional Information on Decision-Making in LSOPM Operations
	References
5 Conclusions and Future Research Direction in LSOPM
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Interrelationships Between Organizational Efficiencies, Information Technologies, and Better Decision-Making
		5.2.1 Concepts of Productivity and Cost Optimization
		5.2.2 Interrelationship Between Cost Optimization and Productivity
		5.2.3 Interrelationship Between Equipment Utilization and Productivity
		5.2.4 Interrelationship Between Decision-Making and Productivity
		5.2.5 Interrelationship Between Decision-Making and Information Technologies
		5.2.6 Interrelationship Between Information Technologies and Productivity
	5.3 Theoretical Contribution for Operational Excellence in LSOPM Operations
	5.4 The Prescriptive, the Normative, and the Descriptive Framework for LSOPM Operations
		5.4.1 The PMLR Model
		5.4.2 Outcomes to Be Replicated for Other Organizations
	5.5 On the Scope and Relevance of This Research
		5.5.1 Future Research Directions
	5.6 Conclusion
	5.7 Summary
	Appendix: Additional Information on Key Takeaways from Chapters
	References