Failure rate distributions for flexible manufacturing systems: An empirical study

To aid researchers in the simulation and testing of maintenance policies for complex, computer controlled technological equipment this paper presents a description of failure and repair rate characteristics as well as distribution data for a typical flexible manufacturing system that is in use in a mid-western (USA) manufacturing plant. Separate data are included for mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, software and human failures as well as repairs. The data are also fit with appropriate theoretical distributions.