Some aging properties of parallel and series systems with a random number of components

In this article, we study aging properties of parallel and series systems with a random number of components. We show that the decreasing likelihood ratio property is closed under the formation of random minima. We also show, by counterexamples, that other aging properties are not closed under the formation of random minima or maxima. Some mistakes in the literature are corrected. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 238–243, 2014     

用非概率理论分析混合不确定性结构的可靠性

针对不确定性结构可靠性分析中的输入变量分布参数具有不确定性和输入变量为区间模型的混合不确定性结构展开研究。考虑到可用信息最少的情况,将分布参数的不确定性描述为区间模型。通过等概率转换方法将随机变量与其分布参数进行分离,使问题转化为随机与区间变量混合的可靠性问题,建立了混合不确定性问题的可靠性分析模型。基于非概率可靠性理论,建立混合不确定结构分析模型的二级极限状态函数并结合Kriging代理模型建立了高效的求解方法。将所建立的混合不确定模型应用于飞行器结构的不确定性分析中,验证了所建模型的合理性和所提方法的高效性和准确性。     

Bivariate models from univariate life distributions: A characterization cum modeling approach

Bivariate life distribution models are of importance for studying interdependent components. We present a generic approach by introducing a new concept of characterized model in stead of a characterized distribution. It strikes a balance between characterization and modeling approaches to eliminate their individual limitations and incorporate their respective strengths. The proposed model, being a characterized one, admits many important properties irrespective of the choice of marginal distributions. The retention of univariate IFR, DFR, IFRA, DFRA, NBU, and NWU class properties in the bivariate setup has been ensured along with some results on series combinations and convolution. No other models, available in the literature, can ensure simultaneous retention of these fundamental and extremely important class properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004     

An adaptive forecasting algorithm and inventory policy for products with short life cycles

Products with short life cycles are becoming increasingly common in many industries, such as the personal computer (PC) and mobile phone industries. Traditional forecasting methods and inventory policies can be inappropriate for forecasting demand and managing inventory for a product with a short life cycle because they usually do not take into account the characteristics of the product life cycle. This can result in inaccurate forecasts, high inventory cost, and low service levels. Besides, many forecasting methods require a significant demand history, which is available only after the product has been sold for some time. In this paper, we present an adaptive forecasting algorithm with two characteristics. First, it uses structural knowledge on the product life cycle to model the demand. Second, it combines knowledge on the demand that is available prior to the launch of the product with actual demand data that become available after the introduction of the product to generate and update demand forecasts. Based on the forecasting algorithm, we develop an optimal inventory policy. Since the optimal inventory policy is computationally expensive, we propose three heuristics and show in a numerical study that one of the heuristics generates near‐optimal solutions. The evaluation of our approach is based on demand data from a leading PC manufacturer in the United States, where the forecasting algorithm has been implemented. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.     

Warranty costs: An age‐dependent failure/repair model

An age‐dependent repair model is proposed. The notion of the “calendar age” of the product and the degree of repair are used to define the virtual age of the product. The virtual failure rate function and the virtual hazard function related to the lifetime of the product are discussed. Under a nonhomogeneous Poisson process scenario the expected warranty costs for repairable products associated with linear pro‐rata, nonrenewing free replacement and renewing free replacement warranties are evaluated. Illustration of the results is given by numerical and graphical examples. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.     

A general approach to the shape of failure rate and MRL functions

Failure rate and mean residual life are two important characteristics for studying reliability of products. In literature, some work studied the shape of failure rate function based on the knowledge of the associated probability density function; some other work investigated the shape of mean residual life function based on the shape of the associated failure rate function separately for continuous case and discrete case. In this article, a general approach is developed which can be applied to the aforementioned studies. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004     

Optimal pricing for a short life‐cycle product when customer price‐sensitivity varies over time

Technology products often experience a life‐cycle demand pattern that resembles a diffusion process, with weak demand in the beginning and the end of the life cycle and high demand intensity in between. The customer price‐sensitivity also changes over the life cycle of the product. We study the prespecified pricing decision for a product that exhibits such demand characteristics. In particular, we determine the optimal set of discrete prices and the times to switch from one price to another, when a limited number of price changes are allowed. Our study shows that the optimal prices and switching times show interesting patterns that depend on the product's demand pattern and the change in the customers' price sensitivity over the life cycle of the product. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012     

基于模糊商空间理论的产品粒化过程分析

模块形成与划分是展开模块化设计及大规模定制生产的关键环节。为了进一步扩展产品模块化的定量分析手段,提出了一种基于模糊商空间理论的产品粒化方法。通过引入粒度计算,将基于相关性分析的产品模块化过程转化为基于粒度计算的产品粒化过程,并应用模糊商空间理论对其进行了分析,给出了基于归一化距离和综合模糊相似关系的产品粒度空间构建方法,建立了基于两阶段优化算法的最佳产品粒层确定流程,进而得到了最优模块划分方案,最后以某堆垛机货叉机构为例对该方法进行了有效性验证。此方法为产品模块聚类与优化提供了一种新的数值分析和评价手段,应用结果表明该方法具有一定的可行性和合理性,能够有效指导产品模块化过程的实施。     

计算机网络级联失效建模与分析

针对以往级联失效模型负载局部重分配规则与现实计算机网络全局路由特点不吻合的缺陷,模拟网络中信息流传输过程。定义路由器的失效条件,建立基于负载全局重分配的级联失效模型,并在此基础上提出基于连通和性能两方面的级联失效影响评价参数,进而分析用户流量和攻击方式对计算机网络级联失效的影响。结果表明,随着流量的增大,级联失效存在相变行为,相变点刻画了网络在不会发生级联失效前提下的最大传输能力。此外,针对网络中高度节点的攻击,更为容易引发大规模的级联失效,应予以重点保护。     

抢险救灾非战争军事行动中应急资源调度网络的优化方法

抢险救灾非战争军事行动包括道路抢修和物资运输等任务,而这两类任务在灾后应急资源调度中存在关联性的影响,且面临路网结构可变及需求随机模糊等挑战,对此,提出了一种非确定性应急资源调度网络双层规划模型,设计了基于蒙特卡洛方法与遗传算法耦合的智能启发式求解策略.通过对典型情境下应急资源调度案例进行分析建模和数值求解,说明了该模型和算法的合理性和有效性.