Determination/estimation of an optimal replacement interval under minimal repair

Abstract

In this paper the problem of estimation of an optimal replacement interval for a system which is minimally repaired at failures is studied. The problem is investigated both under a parametric and a nonparametric form of the failure intensity of the system. It is assumed that observational data from n systems are available. Some asymptotic results are shown. A graphical procedure for determining/estimating an optimal replacement interval is presented. The procedure is particularly valuable for sensitivity analyses, for example with respect to the costs involved.

Keywords:

• Minimal repair
• optimal replacement
• average cost criterion
• expected discounted cost criterion
• nonhomogenous Poisson processes
• counting processes
• estimation
• asymptotic analysis
• graphical analysis

AMS 1980 Subject Classifications:

• Primary: 60 K10
• Secondary: 90 B 25