Revised-BIZ CASE STUDY 1-Anglo American Co. Innovative Tech. Develop. Prof. Ramirez Zapata | Apuntes de Negocios Internacionales

BIZ CASE STUDY #1

- The Anglo American Company -

Innovative Technology Development In The Primary Sector

Introduction to Anglo American

Anglo American is the world’s leading mining company. It is involved in exploration,

extraction and processing. It works in many metals and minerals, e.g. platinum, diamonds,

copper, iron ore, coal. It is also a major employer in Europe and Africa.

Anglo Technical and Anglo Research divisions collaborate and support the Group.

New products, processes and services are created through innovation. Anglo American

focuses its research on improving the performance of its existing processes, developing

new competitive processes, and supporting the wider organization through specialist

mineralogy and analytical services. This enables its customers to receive help from shared

best practice, as well as from the development of emerging technologies. These are new,

often specialized technologies that may be used in mainstream business applications to

improve safety, reduce energy, increase water usage efficiency, lower overall production

cost, enhance product qualities or increase a company’s ability to recover value from its

activities. As organizations develop, they are constantly looking for new ways of doing

things and of meeting customer needs in a better way.

There are many diverse sources of ideas for new products and processes. Before a new

product or process is launched, it must go through a series of phases of development,

which may take place over several years.

These phases are:

➢ The development starts with a well-defined problem that the business needs to solve

➢ Once a new idea to address the problem has been found, the next stage is to produce

a structured development plan

➢ The development plan will show what business needs the new product will fill

➢ The plan will also show many of the features and help the innovation will deliver

➢ It also involves estimating the costs of evaluating an idea, which sometimes means

that alternative solutions are cost-effective

Research and Development

Research starts with a problem and gathers records and tests data to find a solution.

Development involves working out the details of the solution, such as what materials for

construction are needed or if the new process will integrate with existing systems. Anglo

Research uses its ability to develop ideas and find solutions to technical problems and

issues. For example, some new mineral and metal deposits are difficult to mine

economically in traditional ways and need an innovative approach. Once Anglo Research

Vista previa parcial del texto

¡Descarga Revised-BIZ CASE STUDY 1-Anglo American Co. Innovative Tech. Develop. Prof. Ramirez Zapata y más Apuntes en PDF de Negocios Internacionales solo en Docsity!

BIZ CASE STUDY

- The Anglo American Company - Innovative Technology Development In The Primary Sector Introduction to Anglo American Anglo American is the world’s leading mining company. It is involved in exploration, extraction and processing. It works in many metals and minerals, e.g. platinum, diamonds, copper, iron ore, coal. It is also a major employer in Europe and Africa. Anglo Technical and Anglo Research divisions collaborate and support the Group. New products, processes and services are created through innovation. Anglo American focuses its research on improving the performance of its existing processes, developing new competitive processes, and supporting the wider organization through specialist mineralogy and analytical services. This enables its customers to receive help from shared best practice, as well as from the development of emerging technologies. These are new, often specialized technologies that may be used in mainstream business applications to improve safety, reduce energy, increase water usage efficiency, lower overall production cost, enhance product qualities or increase a company’s ability to recover value from its activities. As organizations develop, they are constantly looking for new ways of doing things and of meeting customer needs in a better way. There are many diverse sources of ideas for new products and processes. Before a new product or process is launched, it must go through a series of phases of development, which may take place over several years. These phases are: ➢ The development starts with a well-defined problem that the business needs to solve ➢ Once a new idea to address the problem has been found, the next stage is to produce a structured development plan ➢ The development plan will show what business needs the new product will fill ➢ The plan will also show many of the features and help the innovation will deliver ➢ It also involves estimating the costs of evaluating an idea, which sometimes means that alternative solutions are cost-effective Research and Development Research starts with a problem and gathers records and tests data to find a solution. Development involves working out the details of the solution, such as what materials for construction are needed or if the new process will integrate with existing systems. Anglo Research uses its ability to develop ideas and find solutions to technical problems and issues. For example, some new mineral and metal deposits are difficult to mine economically in traditional ways and need an innovative approach. Once Anglo Research

provided the results from the research to guide the new process development, Anglo Technical provides the specialized engineering and technical skills necessary to carry out the development of the process. Anglo Research and Anglo Technical, the Group, have five broad roles that support the best application of existing technology and the development of innovative technologies:

Providing support in safety and sustainable development, for example, developing a collision avoidance tool. This warns drivers about vehicles which are outside their field of vision.
Reviewing the activities of the organization to ensure that appropriate technologies are used in existing and new operations, such as in improving energy efficiency in the mechanical processing of ore.
Collaborating across the Group to implement innovative technologies that improve efficiency. Anglo American experts from countries across the globe come together to share latest developments in extracting metal from ore.
Showing best practice and transferring this across the organization through the setting up of common standards across the company.
Supporting technical human resources across the business. Talented people at Anglo America have the opportunity of a career across the whole Group and are not limited by geography or the organizational structure. Much of the world’s surface has already been explored. This means that it has become more difficult to find mineral and metal deposits. Anglo American employs more sophisticated techniques to find hidden minerals. For example, it uses planes, helicopters and satellites to map geological structures and identify subtle patterns in surface rock, the earth’s magnetic field and variations in the gravity field. Anglo American can then use this information for targeting sites that might have the potential for mineral deposits. Anglo American undertakes two types of exploration:

Brownfield exploration takes place around or near to existing mines. It involves the discovery of resources close to existing operations.
Greenfield exploration focuses on finding new or previously undiscovered mineral deposits. Around 60 - 70% of reserves come from Anglo American’s Greenfield activities. From Testing to Launch Testing before implementation through:
Computer modelling - for new ideas at little cost
Samples, prototypes or working models – new ideas tested at very small ‘beaker scale’
Pilot plant – at smaller scale but with full working capabilities to understand potential problems

is another influence upon product or process development. They provide Anglo American with a different way of meeting the needs of its customers. Changing technologies also have a long-term influence upon planning. Such developments may lead to new processes and the sharing of technologies through technology transfer across the Group. For example, the design and development of a new electro-hydraulic rig has reduced the time needed to drill mine shafts. New developments in conserving and recycling water have made it possible for Anglo American to mine in arid regions of Africa and Australia. It is also important that primary sector organizations develop their businesses responsibly. Anglo American’s business depends on it extracting raw materials from the earth. Anglo American takes a clear and positive approach to corporate social responsibility. Sustainable development is built into all its policies, strategies and business practices. For example, the company has developed a Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox. This set of procedures, advice and rules helps to ensure a responsible approach to working in communities. Every decision is assessed for its economic, social and environmental impacts. This ensures that natural resources will continue to be available for future generations. Conclusion Through innovation, Anglo American: ➢ Improves existing processes by internal technology transfer ➢ Develops new processes ➢ Shares best practice ➢ Supports development of emerging technologies from many sources. Anglo American is not the only mining company in the world. To compete, it depends on being able to access a constant supply of mineral deposits. These resources must be extracted in a cost-effective way. To remain competitive, it also must consider the actions of its competitors. To keep its market position, Anglo American constantly looks to develop new products and processes. These rely on ideas, research, improved or alternative use of existing technologies, as well as the introduction of recent technologies. Anglo American has sustained its position as market leader in many markets through its capabilities in research and technological development. Case Study Questions: ✓ Describe what is meant by the primary sector. Give two examples of businesses in the primary sector. ✓ Explain the difference between the processes of research and development. ✓ What is the relationship between the need for emerging technologies and the process of technology transfer? ✓ Evaluate how product and process developments enable a large company like Anglo American to sustain its market position. ✓ What is the development of performance standards based upon the most efficient practices within an organization? ✓ What is a sector of industry dealing with raw materials?

✓ What type of plan helps to identify what business needs the new product will fill? ✓ What is the final stage of putting a product in place? Elaborated by: Jaime Ramirez Zapata Business Administration Teacher English Teacher Year - 2024

Revised-BIZ CASE STUDY 1-Anglo American Co. Innovative Tech. Develop. Prof. Ramirez Zapata, Apuntes de Negocios Internacionales

Normalmente descargados juntos

Documentos relacionados

Vista previa parcial del texto

¡Descarga Revised-BIZ CASE STUDY 1-Anglo American Co. Innovative Tech. Develop. Prof. Ramirez Zapata y más Apuntes en PDF de Negocios Internacionales solo en Docsity!

BIZ CASE STUDY