In this paper, a stochastic cell formation problem is studied using queuing theory framework and considering reliability. Since cell formation problem is NP-Hard, two algorithms based on genetic and modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithms are developed to solve the problem. For generating initial solutions in these algorithms, a new heuristic method is developed, which always cre...

Our approach is basically a coherence approach, but we avoid the well-known pitfalls of coherence theories of truth. Consistency is replaced by reliability, which expresses support and attack, and, in principle, every theory (or agent, message) counts. At the same time, we do not require a priviledged access to ”reality”. A centerpiece of our approach is that we attribute reliability also to ag...

The concepts and methods of reliability theory and engineering are applied to services. This has not yet been done in a systematic fashion because services are intangible and the primitives and concepts necessary to making the connection of intangibles and the mathematical theory of reliability have not yet been documented. A good example of the confusion this causes comes from the telecommunic...