TPM framework for underground mobile mining equipment : a case study

In underground mines, mobile mining equipment is critical to the production system. Drill rigs for development and production, vehicles for charging holes, LHDs for loading and transportation, scaling rigs and rigs for reinforcement and cable bolting are all important units in the process to generate a continuous ore flow. For today’s mining companies, high equipment availability is essential to reduce operational and capital costs and to maintain high production. High and controllable reliability is also important especially in attempts to automate the production equipment. This paper compares existing maintenance work in a Swedish and a Tanzanian mine. The various maintenance procedures are identified and evaluated based on a TPM framework.Godkänd; 2011; 20111122 (anngus)