Equipment selection with heterogeneous fleets for multiple‐period schedules

In a simple surface mining scenario we consider a mine to have one mining location and dumpsite connected by a truck route. We determine a purchase and salvage policy for trucks and loaders, which minimises the cost of materials handling over a multiple period schedule. This problem becomes large scale when we consider large sets of equipment and long schedules. Pre‐existing equipment can lead to heterogeneous fleets; non‐uniformity in the operating cost function coupled with compatibility issues also adds to the complexity of the problem. We present an integer programme for this problem, where we introduce a specialised linear constraint set to ensure satisfaction of production requirements while accounting for equipment compatibility. Many aspects of the presented model, such as the consideration of multiple periods and pre‐existing equipment, are novel for the mining industry and ensure that the model is both a new and advanced equipment selection tool.