An optimum group maintenance policy

In this article we present an optimum maintenance policy for a group of machines subject to stochastic failures where the repair cost and production loss due to the breakdown of machines are minimized. A nomograph was developed for machines with exponential failure time distributions. The optimal schedule time for repair as well as the total repair cost per cycle can be obtained easily from the nomograph. Conditions for the existence of a unique solution for the optimum schedule and the bounds for the schedule are discussed.     

Evaluation of costs of ordering policies in large machine repair problems

This article examines a version of the machine repair problem where failures may be irreparable. Since the number of machines in the system keeps decreasing, we impose a fixed state-dependent ordering policy of the type often encountered in inventory models. Although the system is Markovian, the number of states becomes very large. The emphasis of the article, therefore, is on deriving computationally tractable formulas for the steady-state probabilities, the long-run average cost per unit time, and the vector of expected discounted costs. When the state space is so large that exact computations may be infeasible, we propose approximations which are relatively quick and simple to compute and which yield very accurate results for the test problems examined.     

Hu's precedence tree scheduling algorithm: A simple proof

This article presents a simple proof of Hu's algorithm for scheduling in minimum time a set of tasks constrained by precedence tree constraints, each task requiring a unit time to complete, and where m processors are available.     

A cost analysis of sampling inspection under Military Standard 105D

Military Standard 105D has been almost universally adopted by government and private consumers for the lot-by-lot sampling inspection of product which may be inspected on a dichotomoun basis The plan specifies, for each lot size, a random sample size and set of acceptance numbers (maximum allowable number of defectives in each sample). The acceptance numbers are based upon the binomial distribution and depend upon the quality required by the purchaser. Where several consecutive lots are submitted, a shift to less severe (“reduced”) inspection or more severe (“tightened”) inspection is specified when the ongoing quality is very high or low. Further experience permits a return to normal sampling from either of these states This paper examines the long range costs of such a sampling scheme. The three inspection types are considered as three distinct Markov chains, with periodic transitions from chain to chain. The expected sample size and the expected proportion of rejected product are determined as a function of the two parameters under control of the manufacturer, lot size and product quality. Some numerical examples are given which illustrate how to compute the overall cost of sampling inspection. Suggestions are made concerning the choice of parameters to minimize this cost.     

The development and evaluation of a cost-based composite scheduling rule

A cost-based composite scheduling rule is developed and evaluated in comparison with three other well-researched scheduling rules—SPT, S/OPN, and SST. This cost rule permits the optimization of more than one performance measure at a time. The priority number that is used for scheduling operations through each machine group is based on four separate performance measures—(1) In-process Inventory, (2) Facilities Utilization, (3) Lateness, and (4) Mean Setup Time. The factorial experimental design involved three factor levels of loads, three factor levels of cost, and three factor levels of mean time. Analysis of variance was performed on each of the five output measures to study the effects of each of the three factors on each individual rule. Rank-order comparisons between rules were also made; and, finally, general conclusions with regard to the effectiveness and flexibility of the Cost Rule were drawn.     

Some simple scheduling algorithms

This paper considers situations in which jobs require only one operation on a single machine, or on one of a set of identical machines. Penalty-free interruption is allowed. Some simple algorithms are given for finding optimum schedules to minimize maximum lateness and total delay, for the single-machine case, and maximum lateness for a restricted multi-machine case. A simple flow problem formulation permits minimizing maximum lateness for the more general multimachine case.     

A problem of restricted partitions

This paper presents a simple algorithm for finding the number of restricted k-partitions of a natural number n. The unrestricted k-partitions of n are expressed as the sum of these restricted k-partitions, called inadmissible, and the admissible k-partitions. The simplicity of the algorithm is striking, though all the implications are unclear.     

Mathematical control theory solution of an interactive accounting flows model

In this paper we have applied the mathematical control theory to the accounting network flows, where the flow rates are constrained by linear inequalities. The optimal control policy is of the “generalized bang-bang” variety which is obtained by solving at each instant in time a linear programming problem whose objective function parameters are determined by the “switching function” which is derived from the Hamiltonian function. The interpretation of the adjoint variables of the control problem and the dual evaluators of the linear programming problem demonstrates an interesting interaction of the cross section phase of the problem, which is characterized by linear programming, and the dynamic phase of the problem, which is characterized by control theory.