Detailed review of: Maintenance, Replacement & Reliability: Theory and Applications

The table of contents in the book runs into 8 pages, but an abridged version is included here in order to convey the depth and breadth of the subject matter presented in the book:

1. Introduction (25 pages)
   • From Maintenance Management to Physical Asset Management (PMA)
   • The Challenges of PAM
   • Improving PMA
   • Reliability through the Operator
   • Reliability by Design: Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM)
   • Optimizing Maintenance and Replacement Decisions
   • The Quantitative Approach
   • Problems and References
2. Component Replacement Decisions (71 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Optimal Replacement Times for Equipment whose Operating Cost increases with Use
   3. Stochastic Preventive Replacement
   4. Optimal Preventive Replacement Interval of Items subject to Breakdown
   5. Optimal Preventive Replacement Age of an Item subject to Breakdown
   6. Optimal Preventive Replacement Age of an Item subject to Breakdown, taking into account of the time required to effect
   7. Optimal Preventive Replacement Interval or Age of an Item subject to Breakdown: Minimization of Downtime
   8. Group Replacement: Optimal Interval between Group Replacements of Items subject to Failure: The Lamp Replacement Problem
   9. Further Replacement Models
   10. Spare Parts Provisioning: Preventive Replacement Spares
   11. Spare Parts Provisioning: Insurance Spares
   12. Solving the Constant-Interval and Age-Based Models Graphically: Use of Glasser's Graphs
   13. Solving the Constant-Interval and Age-Based Models Using the OREST Software
   14. Problems and References
3. Inspection Decisions (36 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Optimal Inspection Frequency: Maximization of Profit
   3. Optimal Inspection Frequency: Minimization of Downtime
   4. Optimal Inspection Interval to Maximize the Availability of Equipment Used in Emergency Conditions, such as a Protective Device
   5. Optimizing Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) Decisions
   6. Problems and References
4. Capital Equipment Replacement Decisions (46 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Optimal Replacement Interval for Capital Equipment: Minimization of Total Cost
   3. Optimal Replacement Interval for Capital Equipment: Maximization of Discounted Benefits
   4. Optimal Replacement Interval for Capital Equipment Whose Planned Utilization Pattern is Variable: Minimization of Total Cost
   5. Optimal Replacement Policy for Capital Equipment taking into Account Technological Improvement: Finite Planning Horizon
   6. Optimal Replacement Policy for Capital Equipment taking into Account Technological Improvement: Infinite Planning Horizon
   7. Software for Economic Life Optimization
   8. Problems and References
5. Maintenance Resource Requirements (40 pages)
   • Introduction
   • Queuing Theory Preliminaries
   • Optimal Number of Workshop Machines to Meet a Fluctuating Workload
   • Optimal Mix of Two Classes of Similar Equipment (Such as Medium / Large Lathes) to Meet a Fluctuating Workload
   • Rightsizing of Fleet of Equipment: An Application
   • Optimal Size of a Maintenance Workforce to Meet a Fluctuating Workload, Taking into Account Subcontracting Opportunities
   • The Lease or Buy Decision
   • Problems and References

• Appendix 1 Statistics Primer (14 pages)
• Appendix 2 Weibull Analysis (43 pages)
• Appendix 3 Time Value of Money: Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (10 pages)
• Appendix 4 List of Applications of Maintenance Decision Optimization Models (3 pages)
• Appendix 5 Ordinates of the Standard Normal Distribution (1 page)
• Appendix 6 Areas in the Tail of the Standard Normal Distribution (3 pages)
• Appendix 7 Values of Gamma Function (1 page)
• Appendix 8 Median Ranks Table (2 pages)
• Appendix 9 Five Percent Ranks Table (2 pages)
• Appendix 10 Ninety Five Percent Ranks Table (2 pages)
• Appendix 11 Critical Values for the Kolmogorov Smirnov Statistic (d_α) (2 pages)
• Appendix 12 Answers to Problems (5 pages)
• Index (8 pages)

Since 1973, Jardine's textbook, Maintenance, Replacement and Reliability has been very popular with students.

Jardine and Tsang's work is a well-planned textbook written for the benefit of graduate students and teachers. In addition to clearly written explanatory material, learners will find valuable end-of-chapter practice problems and answers. Moreover, the authors have included hints to support readers in reaching the solutions to these problems. Such features are likely to benefit those interested in using the methodologies offered in this book by giving them real problem-solving skills, thus building their confidence as engineers.

Another extremely valuable bonus to this book are the links within the chapters to considerable supplemental reference material in the twelve appendices (the appendices alone comprise nearly 40% of the text). As such, the authors have done a great service to their readers by making the book a largely self-contained resource, eliminating the need for multiple additional source documentation. In addition, links are provided for access to downloadable educational versions of such software packages as OREST, SMS, PERDEC and AGE/CON, Workshop Simulator, Crew Size Optimizer, and WiebullSoft. Also, the instructors who adopt this book may obtain a set of Power Point slides covering the various chapters and appendices, a manual of solutions of the problems in given in the book, and a bank of more than 100 examination questions from Susie Carlisle at susie.carlisle@taylorandfrancis.com.

This reviewer has no hesitation in recommending this excellent book to all students, teachers, researchers, and practitioners who would like to make use of the tools presented therein. This is especially true for those interested in maintenance and replacement issues, particularly in optimizing preventive replacement intervals, inspection frequencies, condition-based maintenance actions, capital equipment replacement, and maintenance resource requirements.

Krishna B. Misra

Review published in the International Journal of Performability Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 2, April 2007, p. 293.