An Effective Approach For The Maintenance Scheduling In Large Systems With Required Reliability Level: A Case Study

Abstract

This paper deals with the problem of the maintenance scheduling in a multi-component system for which a required reliability level has to be warranted until the next planned stop for maintenance. Particularly, the tackled problem concerns both the determination of the elements set on which to perform preventive maintenance and the optimal number of maintenance crews in order to warranty the required reliability level at the minimum maintenance cost. The problem is formulated as a mathematical programming model that becomes very hard to solve for large practical systems. For such reason, a new effective approach based on a constrained genetic algorithm is herein proposed and tested with reference to a naval diesel propulsion unit.