Developing simulation based optimization mechanism for a novel stochastic reliability centered maintenance problem

This research investigates joint scheduling of maintenance and production planning. This novel integrated problem takes benefit of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) for monitoring and managing maintenance function of a stochastic complex production-planning problem namely flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP). The developed RCM works based on stochastic shocking of machines during their process time. In fact, it implements condition based maintenance approach regulated according to stochastic reliability concept. Comparison of the system reliability with critical levels determines the failure statues of the machines. It activates two main types of reaction called preventive and corrective maintenance. Considering breakdown of the system between inspection intervals makes the proposed model more realistic. Moreover, maintenance activity times and their duration are considered stochastically. Because of the high complexity level for this joint system, simulation-based optimization (SBO) approach is proposed for solving the problem. This SBO searches the feasible area through genetic algorithm (GA) and biogeography based optimization (BBO) algorithm. Different test problems, statistical methods, novel visualizations are used to discuss the problem and the algorithm explicitly.