Optimal burn-in and preventive maintenance warranty strategies with time-dependent maintenance costs

Abstract

This article considers the determination of the optimal burn-in time, the degree of preventive maintenance, and the preventive maintenance interval (or, equivalently, the number of preventive maintenance actions) for warranted products with time-dependent maintenance costs. The expected cost function is derived by adopting an appropriate age-reduction model and the determination of the optimal joint solution is discussed. Finally, the impact of providing a burn-in/preventive maintenance program is evaluated through numerical examples.

Keywords:

• Age-reduction model
• burn-in
• preventive maintenance
• time-dependent maintenance cost
• virtual age
• warranty

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Editor and three anonymous reviewers for the extremly helpful comments that substantially improved the presentation of this article. This research is partially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.