Generalized multi-parameter preventive replacement policy for systems with random processing times

Abstract

This article addresses a multi-parameter preventive replacement policy for a stochastically deteriorating system with random working times and imperfect maintenance. The system is subject to two types of failures based on a random mechanism: type-I (repairable or minor) failure rectified by a minimal repair and type-II (non-repairable or catastrophic) failure removed by a corrective replacement. The replacement policy is a multi-criterion one regarding the system age, nature of failure, and number of continuously processed jobs. Under such a policy, the system undergoes the preventive replacement (PR) at a planned life-time T or at a certain number of working times N or at the nth type-I failure and the corrective replacement (CR) at any type-II failure, whichever occurs first. The optimal preventive replacement policy minimizing the mean cost rate is analyzed and determined numerically. The proposed model provides a general framework for analyzing a variety of maintenance policies.