Reliability estimation in Maxwell distribution with Type‐II censored data

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to focus on the study and estimation of reliability characteristics of Maxwell distribution under Type‐II censoring scheme.Design/methodology/approachMaximum likelihood estimation and Bayes estimation methods have been used for the estimation of reliability characteristics. Monte‐Carlo simulation is used to compare the efficiency of the estimates developed by these estimation methods.FindingsWith prior information on the parameter of Maxwell distribution, Bayes estimation provides better estimates of reliability characteristics; otherwise Maximum likelihood estimation is good enough to use for reliability practitioners.Practical implicationsWhen items are costly, Type‐II censoring scheme can be used to save the cost of the experiment and the discussed methods provide the means to estimate the reliability characteristics of the proposed lifetime model under this scheme.Originality/valueThe study is useful for researchers and practitioners in reliability theory and also for scientists in physics and chemistry, where Maxwell distribution is widely used.