Abstract
This research explores the impact of maintenance practices on the operational performance of mining equipment, specifically the 930E electric dump trucks in a surface platinum mine, focusing on metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and equipment availability. The study investigates how different maintenance strategies correlate with performance outcomes, aiming to enhance productivity and maintenance efficacy within the mining sector. The research objectives of this study include the identification of the relationship between the maintenance strategies and the performance measures of MTBF and availability of the equipment. Using quantitative research techniques, such as Weibull distribution and bathtub curve, this study determines the model of failure and reliability of the equipment. The study also shows a clear distinction between the young and the old fleets of trucks; the young fleet having fewer failures while the failures that are observed are random due to the efficient preventative maintenance and predictive maintenance measures implemented. On the other hand, the older trucks have more wear out failures, which means that there is the need to increase the frequency of maintenance activities.
Performance metrics identified that newer trucks have higher availability and longer mean time between failure, meaning they have enhanced quality and dependability. On the other hand, the older trucks with higher wear-out failures have low availability and Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) as evidenced by the ageing of the equipment. There are several strategic recommendations that the study puts forward such as enhancing the preventative maintenance of the old equipment, embracing the enhanced predictive maintenance technologies, designing the maintenance strategies based on equipment life cycle, and periodically reviewing the maintenance approaches.
These recommendations can be implemented by mining operations to obtain benefits of enhanced equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and sustainability. The study is useful in enhancing the formulation of adequate maintenance management systems and frameworks that can help in the analysis of information and improvement of maintenance strategies. Further research should be directed towards the identification of longitudinal studies, integration of new technologies and thorough cost-effectiveness analysis in a bid to enhance the effectiveness of the maintenance strategies in the mining industry. The findings indicate that there is a distinction between the new and old generation of trucks; the new generation of trucks is more confident and has a longer Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). As for the recommendations it is suggested to increase the frequency of the current preventive maintenance of the aged trucks as well as to implement the new type of maintenance known as predictive maintenance.