Many maintenance decisions require the evaluation of alternative solutions in terms of complex maintenance criteria such as cost, repairability, reliability and availability requirements. Such problems can be formulated as multi-criteria decision making problems. The relative importance of maintenance criteria is difficult to be assessed, and therefore a sensitivity analysis becomes a necessity. The sensitivity analysis approach presented in this paper reveals some counter-intuitive results and can considerably enhance the application of decision analysis in complex maintenance management.

The focus of preventive maintenance (PM) programmes in industry is shifting from a pure statistical basis to online condition monitoring. Examines the shortcomings of statistical‐based PM which are contributing to this shift, and the potential benefits of and current research issues within condition‐based PM. Notes that statistics and quality control techniques will continue to play a critical role in this evolution.

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