Purpose
– Reliability assessment does require an effective structural modelling approach for systems, in general and manufacturing systems are no exception. This paper aims to develop it for large manufacturing systems using graph models, a systems approach.
Design/methodology/approach
– Structural graph models for reliability at various hierarchical levels are developed by considering a CNC cam shaft grinding machine. The system reliability expression is obtained by converting the reliability graphs into equivalent matrices, which helps to evaluate and analyse system.
Findings
– Using the obtained reliability expressions at various hierarchical levels of the system, it is possible not only to evaluate its reliability from structure point of view but also to identify weak structural elements from reliability point of view.
Research limitations/implications
– The approach can be extended to include the influence of other parameters, such as human, component and environment, etc., on the system reliability.
Practical implications
– The approach helps to design and develop manufacturing systems from reliability consideration by assessing their possible alternatives among these.
Originality/value
– The suggested methodology is useful for reliability evaluation of large and complex manufacturing systems.
Reliability Evaluation of Manufacturing Systems: Methods and Applications
