Some algorithms to fit some reliability mixture models under censoring

Abstract

Estimating the unknown parameters of a reliability mixture model may be a more or less intricate problem, especially if durations are censored. We present several iterative methods based on Monte Carlo simulation that allow to fit parametric or semiparametric mixture models provided they are identifiable. We show for example that the well-known data augmentation algorithm may be used successfully to fit semiparametric mixture models under right censoring. Our methods are illustrated by a reliability example. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.