Application of control techniques to the management of the maintenance of repairable devices

− The management of the maintenance of a set of filters for the dust refinement has been analysed by means of techniques based on dependability ([4]-[5]), thus obtaining a model of the lifecycle of such devices. Three approaches have been considered: the first one consisting in not applying any particular management policies besides those suggested by the event succession; the second one consisting in planning the recurrence of checks, by following temporal laws obtained by means of dynamic systems control techniques; the third one, finally, consisting in applying redundant constructions. As shown by a numerical example, the second approach, that is an evolution of the preventive maintenance methods, can result also the most economically favourable one. In fact the expected repetition rates of the control checks are quite economical parameters to be used to change reliability and the checks can be conducted also through sensors. Key-Words: − Reliability, Control Systems, Stochastic Systems, Decision Support and Management Systems, Maintenance.