. Determining the acceptability of any product, reliability sampling plans are used. In this paper, reliability sampling plans for truncated life test are developed when the lifetimes of a test follow an alpha distribution. The sampling plan proposed here can save the test time in practical situations. Sampling plans are established through an algorithm. Moreover, some tables are provided for the proposed sampling plans so that proposed method can be used conveniently for the practitioner. Operating characteristic values of the sampling plans are also presented. Examples are provided to illustrate its use.

A system functioning until its failure is 'available' before its failure. If the system is amenable to maintenance i.e. it will function once again after due maintenance, the item is 'available' except for the period during which it is under repair. But, when the data on complete system are not available, it is desirable to make use of the operational data on its components for system. This paper evaluates the maintenance performance of the system when time is continuous and consider half-normal failure lifetime model as well as repair time model.

The stress–strength models have been widely used for reliability design of systems. In these models the reliability is defined as the probability that the strength is larger than the stress. If the strength of the component is sufficient to withstand the stress, then the component is functional. Otherwise, the component fails immediately. This paper considers the problem of strength of a manufactured item against an array of stresses following half-normal distribution.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Bayes acceptance plan of the parallel system for pre‐specified consumer's and producer's specifications regarding the system availability.

This paper considers the problem of strength of a manufactured item with finite strength, facing an infinite stress that follows a log-normal distribution.

This paper considers the analysis of reliability characteristics of an alpha distributed lifetime assuming that its parameters are subjected to random variations.

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to consider the problem of a system amenable to maintenance and to provide to posterior analysis, Bayesian point estimators and Bayesian availability analysis of a k− out of −m system with geometric failure as well as repair time distribution.Design/methodology/approachThe study considers a Bayesian approach, treats these population models as random quantities and makes good use of old information to construct a prior distribution model for these parameters, and then make use of current data to revise this starting assessment in the form of a posterior distribution model for the population model parameters, while the primary motivation to use a Bayesian reliability method is typically a desire to save on test time and materials cost.FindingsThe study clearly demonstrates that, when inspections are performed at specific intervals, time is not continuous and is measured on a discrete scale. It considers the number of successful cycles or operations before failure, then the repair process helps to improve the system reliability.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology represents an efficient way to evaluate the maintenance performance when time is not continuous and measured on a discrete scale.

This paper considers the problem of Bayesian estimation of a systemís reliability when the applied stress and strength follow the Lomax distribution (Pareto type II) probability distribution.

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to consider the problem of strength of a manufactured item against an array of stresses, when each component follows exponential failure law.Design/methodology/approachThe study considers a system consisting of n components in a series with lifetimes that follow exponential failure law and applies a competing failure model to examine the strength reliability of the system.FindingsIn process of developing a new product, the engineer is given the goal for the system and must then develop a design that will achieve the desired reliability of the system, while performing all of the system's intended functions at a minimum cost. The paper involves a balancing act of determining how to distribute reliability to the components in the system, so that the system will meet all the other associated performance specifications.Originality/valueThe application of the proposed technique will not only help the reliability engineers/managers/system engineers to understand the design methodology of the system, but also lead to the problem of addressing the risks involved in perceived quality and reliability levels by eliminating or at least reducing the risk‐impact at the design phase.

An alternative method is discussed to evaluate reliability of systems in stress-strength situations. Some of its variants are also discussed.

This paper considers the problem of strength of a manufactured item with power function distribution facing stress that follows a Weibull probability distribution.