A Tiered Method for the Multi-Objective Problem of Short-Term Mine Planning with Crusher Setup Time

This work presents a hierarchical mathematical programming method for the short-term mine planning multiobjective problem, aimed at allocating materials to multiple ore and waste-rock crushers at an iron ore mine. A key feature of the model is the potential for a single crusher to process both waste rock and ore year-round, which requires a setup time. The decision variables define which materials should be allocated to each crusher and which will actually be processed there. The hierarchically ordered objectives are, in this order: meeting the crushers' production targets, balancing the masses processed, and minimizing the average truck transport distance. The results showed an 8.7\% increase in the average distance traveled by trucks when production was prioritized at certain crushers, compared to the scenario without prioritization.