Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T10:50:09.182Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

When Is a System Better Than the Average of Its Components?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2009

Thore Egeland
Affiliation:
Norwegian Computing Center, Box 114 Blindern, N-0314 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

This paper provides simple conditions for when the reliability of a system of independent components is better (worse) than the average reliability of the components. This result is useful in cases where little is known of the component reliabilities or the structure.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Barlow, R. & Proschan, F. (1981). Statistical theory of reliability and life testing. Silver Spring, MD: To Begin With.Google Scholar
2.Boland, J. & Proschan, F. (1983). The reliability of k out of n systems. Annals of Probability 11(3): 760764.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Egeland, T. (1992). On the S-shaped theorem. Statistics & Probability Letters 13: 14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Hoeffding, W. (1956). On the distribution of the number of successes in independent trials. Annals of Mathematical Statistics 27: 713721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Madsen, H. & Egeland, T. (1989). Structural reliability–Models and applications. International Statistical Review 57(3): 185203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Maymin, Z. (1987). On a conjecture of Barlow and Proschan concerning reliability bounds. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference 16(2): 337344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Moore, E. & Shannon, C. (1956). Reliable circuits using less reliable relays. Journal of the Franklin Institute 262: 281297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar