Reliability analysis to optimise dump trucks in a platinum mining environment : a case for Mogalakwena mine
- Mbeki, Comfort Jacqueline Bathabile
- Authors: Mbeki, Comfort Jacqueline Bathabile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Earthmoving machinery - Maintenance and repair , Mineral industries - Equipment and supplies , Reliability (Engineering) - South Africa , Mining machinery - Maintenance and repair
- Language: Englsh
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/242852 , uj:25061
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The mining industry is faced with declining profits due to the fall of commodity pricing in recent years. The decline in profits resulted in mining companies looking for ways to reduce operational costs especially relating to heavy mining equipment maintenance costs in order to gain a competitive advantage. Diversified miners such as the Anglo American Group have sold loss making assets in efforts to sustain the business. Mogalakwena Mine is the largest open-pit platinum mine in the world. The mine has the largest population of dump trucks in the platinum market and has experienced an increase in equipment failure. The purpose of this research is to investigation the nature and cause of failures in the dump trucks using the Komatsu 930E Series as the population over a 24-month period. The objective of this research is to determine the international best practices in maintenance that can assist in the optimisation of equipment life and reduce the cost of maintenance. This research is a case study that uses the full population of trucks to investigate applied maintenance strategies in Mogalakwena Mine. In addition, a framework of FMECA is used to determine the criticality of common failures. The research study reviews literature on maintenance strategies and its approaches. The theory around preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, predictive maintenance and reliability-centred maintenance is also reviewed. Furthermore, the concept of reliability, reliability parameters and reliability analysis is evaluated placing emphasis on the methods used to conduct reliability analysis on mining equipment. The results from the research study show a significant increase in downtime and unscheduled maintenance although machine availability remains within acceptable the level set by the mine. Further to this, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance and condition-based maintenance strategies are been utilised by the mine.
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- Authors: Mbeki, Comfort Jacqueline Bathabile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Earthmoving machinery - Maintenance and repair , Mineral industries - Equipment and supplies , Reliability (Engineering) - South Africa , Mining machinery - Maintenance and repair
- Language: Englsh
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/242852 , uj:25061
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: The mining industry is faced with declining profits due to the fall of commodity pricing in recent years. The decline in profits resulted in mining companies looking for ways to reduce operational costs especially relating to heavy mining equipment maintenance costs in order to gain a competitive advantage. Diversified miners such as the Anglo American Group have sold loss making assets in efforts to sustain the business. Mogalakwena Mine is the largest open-pit platinum mine in the world. The mine has the largest population of dump trucks in the platinum market and has experienced an increase in equipment failure. The purpose of this research is to investigation the nature and cause of failures in the dump trucks using the Komatsu 930E Series as the population over a 24-month period. The objective of this research is to determine the international best practices in maintenance that can assist in the optimisation of equipment life and reduce the cost of maintenance. This research is a case study that uses the full population of trucks to investigate applied maintenance strategies in Mogalakwena Mine. In addition, a framework of FMECA is used to determine the criticality of common failures. The research study reviews literature on maintenance strategies and its approaches. The theory around preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, predictive maintenance and reliability-centred maintenance is also reviewed. Furthermore, the concept of reliability, reliability parameters and reliability analysis is evaluated placing emphasis on the methods used to conduct reliability analysis on mining equipment. The results from the research study show a significant increase in downtime and unscheduled maintenance although machine availability remains within acceptable the level set by the mine. Further to this, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance and condition-based maintenance strategies are been utilised by the mine.
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An engineering management analysis of communication management systems in an organization that supplies the mining industry
- Authors: Meid, Andreas
- Date: 2015-06-26
- Subjects: Engineering - Management , Communication in organizations , Mineral industries - Equipment and supplies , Project management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381983 , uj:13622 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13803
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Broadly speaking, communication forms an integral component of everyone’s daily activities, be it on a personal level amongst family and friends, or in a professional environment. In many instances, the ability of project teams to communicate effectively and efficiently is taken for granted by project managers, which can result in projects being late or incomplete. However, the importance of Project Communications Management is evident in the fact that the Project Management Institute (PMI) dedicates a chapter to Project Communications Management in the PMBOK® Guide. The current research seeks to understand what effect communication has on a project, and how it can be successfully managed during a project. The research in the form of a case study investigated the state of communications within a project department, with the aim of identifying whether a lack of communication during a project is a contributing factor to projects being late or incorrect. The department in question is responsible for supplying the mining industry with critical conveyor drive equipment. The case study research was conducted utilizing the procedure outlined in the Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3®). The research found that certain areas in the department lacked the basic requirements for effective communications, and that a lack of communication between various stakeholders during a project could negatively influence the success of a project. These findings were compared to those of independent research by the PMI into global trends of project communications. The important aspects relating to Project Communication Management were discussed, and a workable solution to the problem was proposed. It was found that by implementing a communication plan in the department, and encouraging a culture of open and honest communications, the organization can expect to see an improvement in project success.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Meid, Andreas
- Date: 2015-06-26
- Subjects: Engineering - Management , Communication in organizations , Mineral industries - Equipment and supplies , Project management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381983 , uj:13622 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13803
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Broadly speaking, communication forms an integral component of everyone’s daily activities, be it on a personal level amongst family and friends, or in a professional environment. In many instances, the ability of project teams to communicate effectively and efficiently is taken for granted by project managers, which can result in projects being late or incomplete. However, the importance of Project Communications Management is evident in the fact that the Project Management Institute (PMI) dedicates a chapter to Project Communications Management in the PMBOK® Guide. The current research seeks to understand what effect communication has on a project, and how it can be successfully managed during a project. The research in the form of a case study investigated the state of communications within a project department, with the aim of identifying whether a lack of communication during a project is a contributing factor to projects being late or incorrect. The department in question is responsible for supplying the mining industry with critical conveyor drive equipment. The case study research was conducted utilizing the procedure outlined in the Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3®). The research found that certain areas in the department lacked the basic requirements for effective communications, and that a lack of communication between various stakeholders during a project could negatively influence the success of a project. These findings were compared to those of independent research by the PMI into global trends of project communications. The important aspects relating to Project Communication Management were discussed, and a workable solution to the problem was proposed. It was found that by implementing a communication plan in the department, and encouraging a culture of open and honest communications, the organization can expect to see an improvement in project success.
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