Optimizing Fleet Maintenance in Coal Mining Supply Chains: A Case Study of Samleswari Mines, Odisha, India

Coal mining is a crucial part of India’s energy production, with coal as the primary power source. The 24/7 operations at sites like Samleswari Mines in Odisha are prone to disruptions from fluctuating demand, equipment breakdowns, and fuel delivery delays. These disruptions often lead to transportation delays, with significant challenges in managing the vehicle fleet—particularly trucks and payloaders—responsible for transporting coal from the mine face to railway sidings. Fleet uptime is essential, requiring efficient maintenance schedules to prevent breakdowns that cause operational bottlenecks, increased downtime, and missed production targets, potentially resulting in financial penalties.

This research optimizes maintenance strategies to reduce downtime and improve fleet utilization at Samleswari Mines. An Agent-Based Model (ABM) is used to simulate the coal supply chain, focusing on fleet maintenance, and integrates variables like vehicle usage, repair schedules, and spare parts inventory. By testing different maintenance strategies within the model, the study identifies the most effective approaches to minimizing downtime and ensuring a steady coal flow. The model also emphasizes inventory management for spare parts to minimize delays caused by component shortages, shortening repair cycles and improving maintenance efficiency. The ultimate goal is to achieve maximum fleet uptime with minimal costs, enabling consistent coal supply and production target fulfillment.

This study provides a decision-making tool for enhancing the operational efficiency of coal mining supply chains, offering data-driven insights for implementing effective fleet management practices, ensuring resilience in real-world mining environments.