A literature review-based evaluation framework for maintenance strategy selection in heavy vehicles

Effective maintenance strategies are critical for ensuring operational reliability, minimizing downtime, and optimizing resource utilization in fleet-based industrial operations. Among these, mining truck fleets represent a particularly high-risk, high-cost context where equipment failures can lead to substantial productivity losses and safety hazards. Despite the operational importance, existing literature lacks a structured framework to guide maintenance strategy selection that considers the practical constraints of data availability, diagnostic capability, and operational variability. To address this gap, this study proposes an evaluation framework that supports the selection and implementation of appropriate maintenance strategies. The framework is developed through a critical literature analysis, which is synthesized using a Frame of References approach. Unlike generic taxonomies, this model classifies maintenance strategies based on decision logic, response timing, data dependency, required infrastructure, and alignment with organizational capabilities. Building upon this structure, a two-level decision-support framework is introduced. The first decision tree assists practitioners in determining the appropriate class of maintenance strategy—corrective, planned, proactive, or predictive—based on operational constraints and system criticality. The second tree refines this selection by mapping available technological resources and data maturity to suitable analytical methods (e.g., rule-based, statistical, or AI-driven). While the framework is demonstrated in the context of mining truck operations, its modular design makes it applicable to other asset-intensive sectors, including logistics, construction, and heavy manufacturing. By bridging analytical insights with real-world constraints, this study offers a practical tool for organizations seeking to develop scalable, reliable, and context-sensitive maintenance strategies.