In: Journal of Operational Research Society, Vol. 50, pages 1229-1243. 1999.
Abstract: A new maintenance model for a system with both deterioration and Poisson failures is proposed. In this model, at any time-instant and when the system is operating, one of the following decisions may be taken: 1) stop the system to perform a scheduled minimal maintenance; 2) stop the system to perform an inspection; 3) no action and allow the system to go on with its operation. Following an inspection, based on the deterioration condition of the system, one of the following decisions may be taken: a) if the system is in a ``good'' condition, no maintenance action is taken and a number of periodic minimal maintenance activities are scheduled, starting T1 later; b) if the system is in an ``intermediate'' condition, a minimal maintenance is performed and an inspection is scheduled for T2 later (T2<T1); c) if the system is in a ``bad'' condition, a major maintenance is performed and a number of periodic minimal maintenances are scheduled, starting T1 later. In addition, a deterioration failure is restored by a major repair and a Poisson failure is restored by a minimal repair. Generalised Stochastic Petri Nets are used to represent and analyse the model, which represents a ``composite'' maintenance strategy. Based on maximisation of the throughput of the system the benefit of this model compared to 1) an equivalent periodic inspection model and 2) an equivalent planned scheduled maintenance model, is demonstrated. This study presents a new hybrid model with a general framework for incorporating various types of maintenance policies. Also by incorporation of a number of features, this model will be more applicable to real world technical systems (complex systems), although it can be applied to individual components that are part of a complex system.
Keywords: maintenance; optimisation; stochastic processes; flexible manufacturing systems; Markov chain.