Exploring strategies for reducing cost of maintenance on heavy mobile mining equipment: The case of Golden Star Wassa Limited
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Date
2021-06-18
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Abstract
This study explored strategies for reducing cost of maintenance on 'heavy mobile
mining equipment.' 'Maintenance operations' consume a significant portion of the
operating cost of these fleets. Three objectives were set to enable the researcher
achieved the primary goal of the study. ‘Surface mining equipment ' has a finite
economic life that occurs before the end of the equipment’s physical life. This
research initially intended to collect and pre-process the maintenance work database
through questionnaires and interview of key personnel in the industry. To obtain a
better model for each of the available equipment classes, 'data mining analysis ' was
used to compare different algorithms. These trend analyses and models will help the
equipment manager to take decisions related to 'equipment maintenance cost. The
results showed that operating cost has a significant impact on the cost of maintaining
'heavy mobile mining equipment.' Large companies do economic analysis, as
recommended by the equipment suppliers. They incorporate the quantifiable factors
of' increased 'maintenance cost,' decreased performance and technological
improvements. Smaller mining companies and contractor companies generally only
consider historical cost and performance trends, and there is scope for improving the
replacement decision of their 'heavy mobile mining equipment.' The study made the
following recommendations; all mining and contracting companies to draft and
introduce a formal policy for the replacement of their 'earthmoving equipment,' the
equivalent annual cost (EAC) model is the most suitable model for the replacement of
'heavy mobile mining equipment,' and 'maintenance strategy' should be adopted once
it has been implemented
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, College
of Art and Built Environment in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science
Project Management
Keywords
Earthmoving equipment, Maintenance, Heavy mining mobile equipment