Smarter Fleet Management in Mining: Insights from New Research
Smarter Equipment Decisions Through Real-Time Data
At NB Industries, we work with mining and industrial clients across Queensland and Australia, where reliability, safety, and efficiency are critical.
Recently, we reviewed a study in Reliability Engineering & System Safety that offers valuable thinking on how predictive and prescriptive analytics can support dynamic fleet management in mining.
Study title: “Dynamic fleet management: Integrating predictive and prescriptive analytics for improved decision-making” Published online via ScienceDirect.
Relevance for Mining, Energy, and Transport Fleets
The study explores the use of two complementary approaches:
- Predictive analytics, which identify potential maintenance or performance issues before they occur
- Prescriptive analytics, which guide actions based on real-time data and operational conditions
Together, these technologies help decision-makers manage complex fleet operations under varying constraints. For the mining sector—where equipment reliability, downtime, and operator safety are closely linked—this model offers practical value.
The aim isn’t to replace human expertise, but to strengthen it—giving teams clearer, data-backed insights that support better decisions on the ground. This sentiment reflects the direction many mining operators are already heading: leveraging data not to automate blindly, but to better support the people making critical, on-the-ground decisions.
“The goal is not to replace human expertise, but to augment it—providing actionable insight that enhances operational awareness.”
How It Applies to Mining Fleet Operations
For organisations managing haul trucks, site vehicles, and mobile plant equipment, the study reinforces several important themes:
- Early intervention: Identifying risks before they impact operations
- Data-informed scheduling: Supporting preventative maintenance and reducing cost blowouts
- Operator visibility: Providing real-time alerts to support safer decisions
- Sustainability alignment: Reducing fuel waste and unnecessary wear supports ESG goals
These aren’t theoretical benefits. Across Australia’s mining regions—particularly in the Bowen Basin and other remote areas—fleets face tough environmental conditions, labour constraints, and increasing compliance expectations. The ability to act early and plan intelligently is becoming essential.
Supporting Smarter Decisions On Site
NB Industries supports these goals through systems like:
- CabSafe – A remote asset monitoring system that provides real-time cabin condition insights across key health and safety metrics including temperature, vibration, air quality, and CO₂ levels. CabSafe™ helps ensure operator environments remain within safe parameters, even in extreme conditions.
- DustGuard – A precision engine protection system that continuously monitors combustion air for the presence of dust and particulates using optical sensing. By detecting induction leaks early, DustGuard™prevents unfiltered air from damaging engines, protecting against premature wear, unplanned maintenance, and costly downtime.
- Telematics Guru – A flexible, full-featured IoT fleet tracking and management platform designed for mining and industrial use. From asset utilisation to safety alerts and geofence compliance, Telematics Guru empowers site teams to make faster, evidence-based decisions from anywhere in the field.
- Sy-Klone International – Global leaders in cabin air quality and engine filtration systems. NB Industries proudly supplies and supports Sy-Klone’s advanced RESPA® series pressurisation and HEPA filtration units, which are engineered to meet the AS/NZS ISO 23875 standard—helping clients control respirable dust exposure and safeguard operators from harmful airborne particles including silica and diesel particulate matter.
By designing and deploying integrated systems that combine these technologies, NB Industries helps clients move beyond fragmented setups and into proactive, site-fit digital fleet strategies.
“The integration of preventive and predictive maintenance with operation assignation is essential to guarantee fleet availability in a more reliable and secure way.”
Where to Next: Practical Takeaways for Mining Fleet Strategy
This recent research highlights a useful evolution in how fleet management is being approached—especially in environments where availability, safety, and cost control are tightly linked.
Rather than treating predictive tools as add-ons, the study suggests they’re most effective when integrated into day-to-day operations, shaping not only how maintenance is scheduled but also how equipment is assigned, redeployed, or taken offline.
This approach supports a broader shift already underway in many operations: using data to reduce uncertainty, align teams across functions, and maintain performance in increasingly dynamic conditions.
For those working across mine operations, asset management, or site planning, some practical takeaways include:
- Establishing consistent processes to act on real-time data, not just monitor it
- Coordinating maintenance and fleet use more closely to maximise availability
- Planning technology implementation with flexibility in mind—as operational demands and compliance requirements evolve
- Supporting frontline personnel with tools that add clarity, not complexity
These steps don’t require an overhaul. In many cases, they start by improving how existing information is used—and ensuring that it reaches the right people at the right time.
Reference:
Martínez-Gómez, J., Royo, R., Oliva, J. A., et al. (2024). Dynamic fleet management: Integrating predictive and prescriptive analytics for improved decision-making. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, Volume 245. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0951832024003168
If you’d like to discuss how similar principles are being applied across mining and industrial fleets here in Australia, we’re always open to a conversation.