Joint Optimization of Preventive Maintenance and Spare Parts Ordering Considering Imperfect Detection

Abstract

The optimization of preventive maintenance and spare part ordering strategies for modern production equipment is of utmost importance, given its substantial influence on the reliability of equipment systems. Furthermore, the optimization problem discussed here has a direct impact on the reduction of maintenance expenses, thus making it a significant area of research. The optimization of preventive maintenance and spare parts ordering techniques for contemporary industrial equipment, which is a massive and complex system, faces substantial obstacles notwithstanding prior research efforts in the subject. Prior studies have typically assumed a fixed lead time for spare parts ordering, often leading to discrepancies with actual practice. When faced with a critical component failure, such as rolling bearings, it is not advisable for the decision maker to strictly adhere to the ordering strategy. Therefore, this paper presents a novel approach to the maintenance management method, which optimizes preventive maintenance and spare parts ordering strategies using a dynamic early warning period model based on different equipment states. The model incorporates two maintenance approaches, namely normal ordering and emergency ordering, and the equipment will adopt the corresponding maintenance method according to its state. Furthermore, the model takes imperfect detection of equipment states into account since equipment monitoring is not always accurate. Numerical experiments were conducted using rolling bearings, which are a crucial component in typical mechanical equipment, as a case study. The findings indicate that the improved model exhibits a unit time cost of 1.3021, whereas the original model has a unit time cost of 1.3611. Consequently, the new model effectively reduces the maintenance cost. This new method can better resolve the coordination challenge between preventive maintenance and spare parts ordering for equipment, the enhancing of equipment system reliability, and reduce maintenance expenses. In summary, the text presents a significant contribution in the form of a proposed preventive maintenance model that offers increased flexibility, aiming to effectively reduce maintenance costs.