Block replacement policies for a two-component system with failure dependence

Block replacement and modified block replacement policies for two-component systems with failure dependence and economic dependence are considered in this paper. Opportunistic: maintenance policies are also considered. Where tractable, long-run costs per unit time are calculated using renewal theory based arguments; otherwise simulation studies are carried out. The management implications for the adoption of the various policies are discussed. The usefulness of the results in the paper is illustrated through application to a particular two-component system. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals. Inc.