Reliability-based optimal maintenance scheduling by considering maintenance effect effect to reduce cost

A new reliability-based optimal maintenance scheduling method is presented that considers the effect of maintenance in reducing costs. An ordering list of element maintenance effects with various maintenance-interval types is constructed. By means of this ordering list, reliability-based optimal maintenance scheduling for simple reliability structures and composite reliability systems is then carried out. The properties of the proposed method, such as the evaluation of maintenance cost reduction, the simplicity of the proposed method by sacrificing system availability within the allowance method, the operation decision based on the optimal maintenance schedule, etc., are discussed. With simulations, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.