GUIDELINES FOR CORRECTIVE REPLACEMENT BASED ON LOW STOCHASTIC STRUCTURE ASSUMPTIONS

This paper presents corrective replacement decisions, e.g. for machine s in a production process or other technical systems. In an attempt to base decisions on observed failure times only, some guidelines are pr ovided for replacing failed machines. The method does not provide an o ptimal strategy in ail situations, indicating that sometimes more info rmation or assumptions are needed. The optimal policy indicates how to act if the low assumptions model recommends action. If the model does not strongly indicate an action, more data need to be collected or mo re sophisticated modelling is needed. Further modelling would require additional assumptions or input from expert judgements, and could be a n expensive exercise. A method that gives clear guidelines if the data are strongly indicative may save time and money. This paper presents the model in an elementary form and is intended as ct first step towar ds modelling more realistic maintenance situations. (C) 1997 John Wile y & Sons, Ltd.