Performance evaluation of blasthole drilling equipment in a limestone quarry using overall equipment effectiveness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51301/ejsu.2026.i5.05Keywords:
overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), blasthole drilling, limestone quarry, predictive maintenance, mining productivity, NigeriaAbstract
Blasthole drilling is a key operation in hard-rock quarrying, yet its operational effectiveness in African cement-production contexts remains insufficiently quantified. This study applies the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) framework to evaluate three Epiroc DM30 XC rotary blasthole drills at the Dangote Cement Plc limestone quarry in Obajana, Kogi State, Nigeria, and identify the principal sources of productivity loss. Field data were collected during fifteen day-shift observation sessions, comprising five sessions per machine over a three-month period. Scheduled operating time, planned and unplanned downtime, total holes drilled, actual cycle time, and hole quality were recorded using operator logbooks, maintenance records, and direct field observation. OEE was calculated from availability, performance efficiency, and quality rate, and daily values were averaged for each machine. DM30 No.1 achieved the highest mean OEE of 66.73%, with availability of 81.82% and performance efficiency of 81.56%, reaching a daily OEE of 84.83%. DM30 No.2 recorded a mean OEE of 58.27%, with availability of 83.27% and performance efficiency of 69.97%. Its maximum daily OEE of 87.27% indicated substantial variation between shifts. DM30 No.3 had the lowest mean OEE of 48.31%, with availability of 73.27% and performance efficiency of 65.93%; unplanned downtime exceeded 300 minutes in one observed shift. All recorded holes met the specified acceptance criteria, yielding a quality rate of 100% for each machine. Availability and performance losses therefore accounted for the observed reductions in OEE, with their relative contributions varying between machines. The findings support prioritising maintenance planning, operator performance monitoring, and standardised drilling procedures. These measures could improve equipment effectiveness and the reliability of limestone supply, although their benefits require verification through longer-term monitoring.
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