Optimizing weekly maintenance schedules for mass rapid transit facilities

To ensure the smooth operation of the MRT system, efficient resource utilization for effective facility maintenance is crucial. Currently, engineers in Taiwan rely on past records and personal knowledge to schedule maintenance, which is inefficient and leads to higher costs. To address this challenge, a systematic weekly maintenance model has been developed, tailored to the needs of local MRT companies. This model takes into account preventive maintenance, repair needs, and workforce constraints, with the aim of minimizing total maintenance costs. Formulated as a challenging integer network flow problem with side constraints, the model utilizes a heuristic algorithm to efficiently solve complex scenarios. Initial results from a case study show promise, suggesting that this model and solution algorithm can be valuable tools for MRT companies.