Component reliability estimation based on system failure-time data

ABSTRACT

We consider a coherent system consists of n components with independent and identically distributed lifetimes. We use the well-known signature-based representation of the system reliability to estimate the reliability of components of the system when the data is the system failure times collected according to a progressively censored scheme. Different estimators for the reliability of components are proposed and their properties are examined. A Monte Carlo simulation study have been carried out to compare the performance of the estimation methods.

Keywords:

• Coherent system
• component reliability
• system design
• signature
• maximum likelihood
• order statistics
• Kaplan–Meier estimator

Acknowledgments

This research was carried out in IPM Isfahan branch. Asadi's research was in part supported by a grant from IPM (No. 95620411) and Tavangar's research was in part supported by a grant from IPM (No. 94600076).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was carried out in Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences IPM Isfahan branch. Asadi's research was in part supported by a grant from IPM [No. 95620411] and Tavangar's research was in part supported by a grant from IPM [No. 94600076].