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Front Range Aggregates Optimizes Feeder Movements at Its Quarry

Author

Listed:
  • Peter McKenzie

    (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Bagdad, Arizona 86321)

  • Alexandra M. Newman

    (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401)

  • Luis Tenorio

    (Mathematical and Computer Sciences Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401)

Abstract

Front-end loaders extract sand and gravel (aggregate) from a pit and haul it to a feeder, which releases the aggregate onto a conveyor belt that is connected to a stockpile; the material is subsequently distributed to a processing plant. As mining progresses, the mining frontier moves farther away from the feeder, increasing loader cycle time. In turn, plant managers add loaders to maintain production rates. Eventually, the feeder must be moved closer to the mining frontier. Such a move requires shutting down production so that a crew can move the feeder. Historically, because a feeder movement did not occur until all loaders were in operation, such feeder movements overtaxed the loaders and lacked advance warning. We present a model to determine how often the feeder should be moved to the mining frontier. A shortest-path algorithm can quickly solve our model to minimize feeder movement and loader cycle-time costs. This model revolutionizes how aggregate companies, specifically Front Range Aggregates, plan feeder movements.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter McKenzie & Alexandra M. Newman & Luis Tenorio, 2008. "Front Range Aggregates Optimizes Feeder Movements at Its Quarry," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 38(6), pages 436-447, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:38:y:2008:i:6:p:436-447
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1080.0403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhen Song & Håkan Schunnesson & Mikael Rinne & John Sturgul, 2015. "Intelligent Scheduling for Underground Mobile Mining Equipment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Alexandra M. Newman & Enrique Rubio & Rodrigo Caro & Andrés Weintraub & Kelly Eurek, 2010. "A Review of Operations Research in Mine Planning," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(3), pages 222-245, June.
    3. Pérez, Juan & Maldonado, Sebastián & González-Ramírez, Rosa, 2018. "Decision support for fleet allocation and contract renegotiation in contracted open-pit mine blasting operations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 59-69.

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