Reliability and availability analysis of the serial processes in skim milk powder system of a dairy plant: a case study

Anil Kr. Aggarwal, Sanjeev Kumar and Vikram Singh

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2016, vol. 22, issue 1, 36-62

Abstract: In this paper, a numerical method is proposed to compute the long run availability and reliability with mean time between failures (MTBF) for skim milk powder system of a dairy plant. It is a complex system and comprises of six repairable subsystems viz. chiller, cream separator, pasteuriser, evaporator, drying chamber and packaging sub-systems arranged in series or parallel configurations. This analysis is based on Markov birth-death process and by assuming that the failure and repair rate of each subsystem follows exponential distribution. Mathematical formulation of the system is carried out and Chapman-Kolmogorov differential equations are derived, a numerical method, i.e., Runge-Kutta fourth order method is used to solve these differential equations. The results are presented and discussed with the plant personnel to adopt and practice suitable maintenance policies/strategies to enhance the productivity of skim milk powder system.

Keywords: Markov birth-death process; Markov modelling; exponential distribution; Chapman-Kolmogorov differential equations; Runge-Kutta fourth order method; reliability; long run availability; mean time between failures; MTBF; skimmed milk; milk powder; dairy industry; case study. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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