Optimum inspection frequency for manufacturing systems
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management
ISSN: 0265-671X
Article publication date: 1 May 1998
Abstract
For manufacturing systems which are in continuous operation and subject to breakdown, inspection can be an appropriate maintenance strategy. In this situation, inspection can reduce down‐time and increase system reliability. In this paper two main ideas are proposed. In the first, an inspection effect function is introduced which modifies the traditional system failure rate distribution. This modification involves a formula which demonstrates the effect of inspection frequency and inspection effectiveness on system failure rate distribution. It is then argued that under inspection policy the system’s traditional failure rate is necessarily affected by these factors. The second idea presents a maintenance model in which the system is interrupted in its time to failure by inspections. Optimisation of this model determines an optimal inspection frequency which minimises the system’s total down‐time. Thus, it is shown that by optimising inspection frequency system availability can be increased.
Keywords
Citation
Bahrami‐Ghasrchami, K., Price, J.W.H. and Mathew, J. (1998), "Optimum inspection frequency for manufacturing systems", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 250-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656719810209437
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited