Computing RAM indices for reliable operation of production systems

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to permit the system reliability analysts/managers/engineers/ practitioners to conduct RAM analysis of the system which may helps them to model, analyze and predict the behavior of industrial systems in a more realistic and consistent manner. Design/methodology/approach: Markovian approach is used to model the system behavior. For carrying out study, Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the subsystems is carried out and transition diagrams for various subsystems are drawn and differential equations associated with them are formulated. After obtaining the steady state solution the corresponding values of reliability and maintainability are estimated at different mission times. Findings: With RAM analysis of the system key performance metrics such as Mean Time between Failure (MTBF), Mean time to Repair Time (MTTR) and System availability values are ascertained. Research limitations/implications: Based on the RAM analysis, possible maintenance strategies can be investigated which might help the plant personnel to improve the system effectiveness. Practical Implications: Without exercising much effort in developing complex system models, the proposed method for analyzing system performance may prove helpful to the reliability analysts/ engineers/practitioners to model analyze and predict the behavior of system more efficiently and resolve the RAM requirements of the system in unison. Originality/value: The simultaneous adoption of both qualitative (RCA) and quantitative (Markov approach) approach to analyze and obtain RAM indices for measuring the system performance helps the maintenance engineers to improve RAM aspects after understanding the failure behavior of component(s) in the system.