Optimal inspection of a complex system subject to periodic and opportunistic inspections and preventive replacements

Sharareh Taghipour and Dragan Banjevic

European Journal of Operational Research, 2012, vol. 220, issue 3, 649-660

Abstract: This paper proposes two optimization models for the periodic inspection of a system with “hard-type” and “soft-type” components. Given that the failures of hard-type components are self-announcing, the component is instantly repaired or replaced, but the failures of soft-type components can only be detected at inspections. A system can operate with a soft failure, but its performance may be reduced. Although a system may be periodically inspected, a hard failure creates an opportunity for additional inspection (opportunistic inspection) of all soft-type components. Two optimization models are discussed in the paper. In the first, soft-type components undergo both periodic and opportunistic inspections to detect possible failures. In the second, hard-type components undergo periodic inspections and are preventively replaced depending on their condition at inspection. Soft-type and hard-type components are either minimally repaired or replaced when they fail. Minimal repair or replacement depends on the state of a component at failure; this, in turn, depends on its age. The paper formulates objective functions for the two models and derives recursive equations for their required expected values. It develops a simulation algorithm to calculate these expected values for a complex model. Several examples are used to illustrate the models and the calculations. The data used in the examples are adapted from a real case study of a hospital’s maintenance data for a general infusion pump.

Keywords: Maintenance; Periodic inspection; Opportunistic inspection; Preventive replacement; Soft failure; Hard failure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:220:y:2012:i:3:p:649-660

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2012.02.002

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