Determining the workload of the machine and tractor fleet maintenance service in agriculture using the scheduling method

Abstract

The efficient operation of agricultural machinery depends on the rational organisation of its maintenance. The most systematic research on the technical service of agricultural machinery has been carried out in GosNITI. An integrated maintenance and repair system for agricultural machinery (TORSELHOZ) has been developed. But this system is currently in contradiction with the emerging trend of declining agricultural machinery production, the expansion of more reliable foreign machines than domestic ones on the domestic market and the lack of qualified staff of machine operators. Machine reliability indicators determine the amount of repair and maintenance work. In its turn, these volumes of work are the initial characteristics for the formation of a repair and maintenance base for the technical service of agricultural machinery. The dealer system, which is very important, is the link between the machine manufacturer and the farmer. However, the dealer service cannot meet such challenges due to a lack of logistical and financial resources, as well as a de facto lack of a service user. Therefore, much of the maintenance and repair work on machinery and tractor fleets must be organised on the farm, with the adopted maintenance organisation system forming a major part of the efficiency of this system. The scheduling method of tractor maintenance takes into account the specifics of agricultural production and ensures timely and complete maintenance. Research has shown that the efficiency of maintenance organisation is mainly influenced by the arable area, the class of personnel in the system, the energy capacity of the farm, the availability of mechanics and the uneven load of MTP over the periods. The main points of the method of organising maintenance according to the scheduling system are defined.