A Nonpreemptive Goal Programming Approach to Truck Dispatching in Open Pit Mines

A nonpreemptive goal programming dispatching model that provides an efficient basis for maximizing production and maintaining ore quality characteristics within prescribed limits is formulated, developed and validated with data from an operating mine. The ore quality characteristics are modeled using target (goal) constraints. The target, ore quality parameter value is set midway between the prescribed upper and lower limit values. The results show that the goal programming model ensures the maintenance of ore quality characteristics within prescribed lower and upper limits and the maximization of production. A linear programming model, on the other hand, results in production maximization only, which is not significantly different from the goal programming model, and requires re-handling or stockpiling.