Selective maintenance for series-parallel systems when durations of missions and planned breaks are stochastic

Abstract

This paper addresses the selective maintenance optimization problem for a series-parallel system. The system performs several missions with breaks between each two consecutive missions. To improve the system reliability to operate the next mission, its components are maintained during breaks. To each component, a list of maintenance actions is available from minimal repair to overhaul through imperfect maintenance actions. Durations of missions as well as that of breaks are considered not constant but rather stochastic. These durations are therefore modeled as random variables. The selective maintenance optimization problem developed is then non-linear and stochastic. The fundamental constructs and the relevant parameters of this decision-making problem are developed and discussed. A simplified series-parallel system is investigated to demonstrate the added value of solving this non-linear and stochastic selective maintenance optimization program.