Optimal maintenance policies for a safety‐critical system and its deteriorating sensor. (26th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Oosterom, Chiel; Maillart, Lisa M.; Kharoufeh, Jeffrey P.
• Is Part Of: Naval research logistics. Volume 64:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 399
• Page End: 417
• Publication Date: 2017-09-26
• Subjects: maintenance optimization -- sensor deterioration -- partially observable Markov decision process -- threshold policy; Logistics, Naval -- Periodicals; Supplies and stores -- Periodicals; 359.07
• DOI: 10.1002/nav.21763
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-069X

Abstract

Abstract: We consider the integrated problem of optimally maintaining an imperfect, deteriorating sensor and the safety‐critical system it monitors. The sensor's costless observations of the binary state of the system become less informative over time. A costly full inspection may be conducted to perfectly discern the state of the system, after which the system is replaced if it is in the out‐of‐control state. In addition, a full inspection provides the opportunity to replace the sensor. We formulate the problem of adaptively scheduling full inspections and sensor replacements using a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) model. The objective is to minimize the total expected discounted costs associated with system operation, full inspection, system replacement, and sensor replacement. We show that the optimal policy has a threshold structure and demonstrate the value of coordinating system and sensor maintenance via numerical examples. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 64: 399–417, 2017