On the application of stochastic models in nuclear power plant maintenance

Whereas Philip A. Scarf's effort [Eur. J. Operat. Res. 99 (1997) 493] can be seen as an "appeal to Maintenance Modelers to work with Maintenance Engineers and Managers on real problems" the current effort can be seen as the start of a program to do just that by using the relatively large 20 year old data bases available at Ontario Power Generation (OPG). A significant portion of the traditional problem areas have been circumvented by combining well known elementary models with input from practitioners in the nuclear maintenance field of over 25 years experience. Case studies of containment airlock seal failures are used here to illustrate the direct applicability of stochastic processes. The application is kept relatively clear and lucid to reflect the often non-stochastically trained audience. The results are displayed via economic alternatives to more easily attract the attention of maintenance managers. The conclusions highlight several dramatic avenues that await the coordinated effort of practitioner and modeler at this particular juncture in time. Pursuit of these avenues could well result in a resurgence of all branches of operational research in large industry. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.