Optimal Imperfect Maintenance in a Multi-state System

Abstract

In this research, we are concerned with the modeling of optimal maintenance actions in multi-state systems. Most of the imperfect maintenance models that have been investigated in literature use either imperfect preventive maintenance actions or imperfect corrective maintenance actions. In this paper we consider a model with both imperfect preventive and imperfect corrective maintenance actions. A sequential failure limit preventive maintenance (PM) policy with infinite planning horizon and with imperfect preventive and imperfect corrective maintenance actions is used to formulate a cost optimization problem. Different cost functions for PM actions, as well as several discrete lifetime distributions are introduced. The solution of the cost optimization problem is illustrated by an example.