Analysis of a machine repair problem with an unreliable server and phase type repairs and services

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2003

Publication Title

Naval Research Logistics

Abstract

In this paper we study a machine repair problem in which a single unreliable server maintains N identical machines. The breakdown times of the machines are assumed to follow an exponential distribution. The server is subject to failure and the failure times are exponentially distributed. The repair times of the machine and the service times of the repairman are assumed to be of phase type. Using matrix-analytic methods, we perform steady state analysis of this model. The time spent by a failed machine in service and the total time in the repair facility are shown to be of phase type. Several performance measures are evaluated. An optimization problem to determine the number of machines to be assigned to the server that will maximize the expected total profit per unit time is discussed. An illustrative numerical example is presented.

Volume

50

Issue

5

First Page

462

Last Page

480

DOI

10.1002/nav.10069

ISSN

1520-6750

Rights

© 2003 Wiley Periodicals, In. All Rights Reserved

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