Development of a model for supporting the vital activity of coal mining enterprises based on the study of the elasticity of productive flows

Purpose. To develop a new approach to designing the operations of coal mining enterprises, considering various activity programs (scenarios). Methodology. To develop the approach, project management methods were applied, along with the Cobb-Douglas function to determine the configuration of productive flows (the main flow being coal; auxiliary flows: rock mass, methane gas, and water). A methodology for determining elasticity coefficients was used to assess the impact of each productive flow on the overall productivity level and to verify the approach based on the consideration of productive flows. Findings. Four production scenarios were analyzed, considering various operational conditions, from the mutual influence of productive flows to a situation where coal extraction was absent. It was established that the sum of elasticity coefficients ranged between 0.97 and 1.00, indicating the feasibility of considering all flows. The hypothesis regarding the distribution of productive flows was confirmed using the AHP, PROMETHEE, ELECTRE, and VICOR hierarchy analysis methods. Originality. A methodology for designing operational programs for coal mining enterprises was developed. The influence of each productive flow on the overall efficiency of the enterprise was determined. Practical implications. It was established that coal, as a productive flow, has negative elasticity, indicating a direct impact on efficiency levels. In other words, when production volumes do not align with rational levels, uncontrolled shutdowns of production capacities occur. Rock and methane gas have positive elasticity, indicating a consistent return regardless of production volumes. Water has zero elasticity but becomes the second most promising productive flow in the absence of coal mining. Additionally, the threshold for the uncontrolled shutdown of production capacities due to coal extraction was identified.