Jason W. Rupe

Performability of FMS based on stochastic process models

We address the design for reliability of complex systems, such as Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS), through mathematical modelling of the machine failure, spares inventory, and repair processes. The unique model allows separation of systems by Machine Part Type (MPT); thus, we can model an extremely complicated FMS through many simpler models. Our measure of system effectiveness is based on a performability measure that credits partial availability by the performance of the system in that state. By comparing performability measures, designers and managers can affect the system reliability. Examples demonstrate how to use these developments.

Designing for high performance of a command, control, communication and information network

The design of effective communication and information networks (CIN) is important to the supported command and control (C/sup 2/) structure. The Command, Control, Communication and Information Network Analysis Tool (C3INAT) allows experts in different fields to develop sub-models independently, thus allowing analysts to compare various communication networks under the same C/sup 2/ structure. Statistical tools have been applied to C3INAT to reduce the simulation effort and to direct the study toward a near optimal solution through the application of Taguchis method (experimental design), outlier tests, and stopping conditions. This paper outlines the applications of statistics to the evaluation of CIN. The application of Taguchis method has reduced the necessary simulation time immensely while the structure of the method has aided in finding near-optimal conditions faster than a full-factorial analysis. Structuring the experiments before simulation allows future versions of C3INAT to incorporate automatically many of these tasks. The variance reduction technique and stopping condition place a lot of importance on the quantity /spl epsiv/. The algorithm requires minimal computer time and memory, and it can be used in conjunction with other variance reduction techniques. The algorithm, separate from the variance limit, can be applied when the variance limit is substituted with another. The technique can also be applied to post simulation analysis where the data are intact. >

Network Nodal Independence, Hierarchical Path Search, and Model Reuse for Network Availability Computation

Telecommunication networks often have structures that can be leveraged for efficient modeling, yet often are not; and these networks require analyses considering measures of performance beyond what most research enables. In this paper, we take advantage of that structure to show how we can make any path search algorithm more efficient, and apply those results in an extended measure of service and network performance which includes probabilistic measures including reliability, availability, and normalized performability. We further extend to a measure for comparison of networks which relates the correlation of connection points on the network, and show why the measure and comparison is widely useful. The work presented in this paper is easy to understand and apply to a broad range of Information and Communications Technology network design problems and approaches in use.

Publication Guidelines for IEEE Transactions on Reliability, and Perhaps Everyone

I N THE HOPES of guiding authors to write better papers for our Transactions on Reliability, I’ve compiled some thoughts which I hope will help. Perhaps this will help the authors of all archival journals. An author first has to determine whether their work is of sufficient importance to warrant publication. Then if so, where should they submit the work, for whom should they write the paper, and how?

Review of Optimal Reliability Design, Fundamentals and Applications

This reference covers the extent of the state-of-the-art in optimizing systems reliability. The book consists of fifteen chapters and an appendix. The main part of the book is organized by problem type and solution method. Some of the topics covered include: redundancy allocation methods using heuristics, dynamic programming solutions and discrete optimization methods; reliability optimization using nonlinear programming and meta-heuristic algorithms; and methods to solve reliability-redundancy optimization. The book may serve as a textbook for students or as a reference for researchers and practitioners. It is a comprehensive book that is recommended for anyone concerned with designing reliable systems.

Review of Reliability of Large Scale Systems

This book is primarily a reference book, not an introductory textbook. It goes beyond the static or average reliability calculations which are typically considered. Instead, it works with functions to provide the reliability functions of large systems, which are extremely useful, when applicable. The book requires the reader to become familiar with its non-standard terminology and notation in order to apply the results. The book is useful for users who have a need for large systems reliability calculation methods, but for those seeking more common system reliability problems, there are more general. introductory references available.

List of Referees

Lists, in alphabetical order, those referees who contributed to the IEEE Transactions on Reliability during 2006.

Editorial—IEEE Editors Survey on the Features of Accepted Papers

IEEE Transactions on Reliability is the premiere technical journal for reliability and related disciplines. We strive to continue this reputation, so we continue to discover what makes journals great. We have discovered that IEEE journals work to have the qualities readers and authors would like to expect. Correctness and technical merit are important features of accepted manuscripts, with correctness rating as most important to the responding editors. Writing and solving real problems seem to be the least important features. The relative unimportance of these last two categories may be a concern, except that relative importance is not an indicator of absolute importance. However, a recent IEEE survey suggests that members place most value on more practical articles, which suggests that the relative importance of solving real problems should be high if we are to meet the needs of our members through our journals.