A Dynamic Maintenance Strategy for Multi-Component Systems Using a Genetic Algorithm

In multi-component systems,the components are dependent,rather than degenerating independently,leading to changes inmaintenance schedules.In this situation,this study proposes a grouping dynamicmaintenance strategy.Considering the structure of multi-component systems,the maintenance strategy is determined according to the importance of the components.The strategy can minimize the expected depreciation cost of the system and divide the system into optimal groups that meet economic requirements.First,multi-component models are grouped.Then,a failure probability model of multi-component systems is established.The maintenance parameters in each maintenance cycle are updated according to the failure probability of the components.Second,the component importance indicator is introduced into the grouping model,and the optimization model,which aimed at a maximum economic profit,is established.A genetic algorithm is used to solve the non-deterministic polynomial(NP)-complete problem in the optimization model,and the optimal grouping is obtained through the initial grouping determined by random allocation.An 11-component series and parallel system is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy,and the influence of the system structure and the parameters on the maintenance strategy is discussed.

Ship System Maintenance Strategy Selection Based on DELPHI-AHP-TOPSIS Methodology

Maintenance decision problems generally involve multiple criteria which apparently are best addressed using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) tools. This paper describes the use of a hybrid MCDM technique in prioritizing maintenance strategy for ship systems. The Hybrid MCDM technique combines Delphi method, AHP and TOPSIS methods. While the Delphi method and AHP are applied in screening of decision criteria and decision criteria weights determination respectively, the TOPSIS method is used in the ranking of alternative maintenance strategies. Five alternative maintenance strategies which include corrected maintenance, scheduled overhaul, scheduled replacement, continuous on-condition task and scheduled on-condition task are considered and the optimum maintenance strategy is selected based on twelve critical maintenance decision criteria. To demonstrate the suitability of the approach a case study of sea water pump of the central cooling system of a marine diesel engine is used.

Modern Maintenance Strategy of Electronic Equipment in Complex Electromechanical System

In this paper, the failure mechanism of electronic equipment was analysed.Aiming at the limitation of traditional maintenance modes, modern maintenance strategy was putforward on the basis of reliability-centered maintenance ( RCM) combined with condition-basedmaintenance ( CBM) and maintenance efficiency review (MER). A maintenance management informationsystem was constructed for electronic equipment for the purpose of failure analysis, reliabilityevaluation, and maintenance decisions such as time, mode, and plan. The best maintenance time couldbe predicted with failure analysis and reliability evaluation, which was mainly influenced byenvironmental stress. Suitable maintenance modes should be determined from equipment importance,failure aftereffect, maintenance condition, and economical power so as to ensure equipmentreliability and decrease the requirement of the maintenance source.

Study on Equipment Selective Maintenance Strategy Based on Performance

In this paper, an equipment selective maintenance strategy based on performance is brought forward according to the situation in China, in which reliability, computer technology, condition monitoring and management theory is applied. The theory points of the strategy are put forward. The maintenance strategy has been applied in mine hoist system.

Research on Network Maintenance Strategy Selection Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution Algorithm

Network maintenance strategy selection is a multi-objective decision making topic. It mostly depends on the uncertainty and fuzziness of decision makers and conditions. In this paper, based on analytic hierarchy process(AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS), TOPSIS partial order method is proposed to choose the optimal maintenance strategy. This method uses AHP to determine the weights of evaluation indexes. The optimal maintenance strategy choice is given as an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

Reliability-Centered Maintenance-Based Maintenance Decision in New Nuclear Power Plants

Taking the project of introducing reliability-centered maintenance( RCM) into maintenance decision in an AP1000 nuclear power plant( NPP) under construction as the research object,an improved RCM methodology was proposed, and the application software and an RCM-based maintenance strategies management system were designed. In the pilot project,the RCMbased maintenance decision methodology had been applied to determining the maintenance strategies for two systems. Both the decision process and the results were described in this paper. The achievements of this project promoted the introduction and routinization of an advanced and effective maintenance decision mode in nuclear power field,which could provide valuable reference for new NPPs in China.

Product Modular Design Incorporating Preventive Maintenance Issues

Traditional modular design methods lead to product maintenance problems, because the module form of a system is created according to either the function requirements or the manufacturing considerations. For solving these problems, a new modular design method is proposed with the considerations of not only the traditional function related attributes, but also the maintenance related ones. First, modularity parameters and modularity scenarios for product modularity are defined. Then the reliability and economic assessment models of product modularity strategies are formulated with the introduction of the effective working age of modules. A mathematical model used to evaluate the difference among the modules of the product so that the optimal module of the product can be established. After that, a multi-objective optimization problem based on metrics for preventive maintenance interval different degrees and preventive maintenance economics is formulated for modular optimization. Multi-objective GA is utilized to rapidly approximate the Pareto set of optimal modularity strategy trade-offs between preventive maintenance cost and preventive maintenance interval difference degree. Finally, a coordinate CNC boring machine is adopted to depict the process of product modularity. In addition, two factorial design experiments based on the modularity parameters are constructed and analyzed. These experiments investigate the impacts of these parameters on the optimal modularity strategies and the structure of module. The research proposes a new modular design method, which may help to improve the maintainability of product in modular design.

Impact of Safety-Maintenance Practices on the Overall Performance of an Industry

The study aims to evaluate how safety-maintenance practices affect the mechanical engineering industry’s overall performance in Ghana. The study used a descriptive survey design technique to ascertain the type of maintenance engineering that was practiced in Ghanaian mechanical engineering workshops at the time of the study. In the mechanical engineering workshops, respondents provided both qualitative and quantitative data using a variety of data collecting instruments, with the quantitative approach being more common. The study employed Kumasi, Tamale, and Accra’s mechanical engineering workshops as a case study. The number of mechanical engineering workshop enterprises that made up the sample size for the questionnaire administration was sixty (60), chosen at random from the AGI membership registry. Primary data was gathered using interview guides and questionnaires. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics were employed. According to the study’s findings, mechanical engineering companies combined different maintenance techniques in order to best fit their organisational culture and equipment. Preventive shut-down, with a mean score of 4.78 and RII = 0.98, placing first (1st) in the Likert rating order, is the most frequently used maintenance system by respondents. The maintenance procedures employed by mechanical engineering organisations were influenced not only by their equipment and organisational culture but also by other factors such as cost, personnel expertise and external partnerships.

Economic Life Assessment of Power Transformers Using an Improved Model

The electric power enterprise devotes considerable attention to the reliability of power transformers particularly when it decides to either maintain these transformers or decommission them altogether from operation.Although this process has reduced the risk of transformer faults,the attendant dilemma is of excessive maintenance of transformers,or retiring them prematurely,leading to high economic waste.This paper is inspired by real-time engineering applications,and proposes an improved model to assess the economic life of power transformers.The new model offers a more efficient approach than previous methods of assessment,with a specific focus of using the annual net income as separate criteria for determining the economic indices of continuous operation,overhaul,and retirement strategies of transformers.The economic life of power transformers is divided into three sections according to different strategies to better resolve the quantification problem in this field.A case study is provided to prove the feasibility and validity of the proposed economic life model.The case study achieves the fine management goal when the electric power enterprise is required to make the maintenance and retirement strategy decision.