Optimal Reliability Design is a detailed introduction to systems reliability and reliability optimization. State-of-the-art techniques for maximizing system reliability are described, focusing on component reliability enhancement and redundancy arrangement. The authors present several case studies and show how optimization techniques are applied in practice. They also pay particular attention to finding methods that give the optimal trade-off between reliability and cost. Chapters cover optimization tools such as heuristics, discrete optimization, nonlinear programming, mixed integer programming, optimal arrangement, and metaheuristic algorithms, and their computational implementation. Many numerical examples are included, as well as over 180 homework exercises. The book is suitable as a text for graduate-level courses in reliability engineering and operations research and as a valuable reference for practicing engineers.

List of figures; List of tables; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction to reliability systems; 2. Analysis and classification of reliability optimization models; 3. Redundancy allocation by heuristic methods; 4. Redundancy allocation by dynamic programming; 5. Redundancy allocation by discrete optimization methods; 6. Reliability optimization by nonlinear programming; 7. Metaheuristic algorithms for optimization in reliability systems; 8. Reliability-redundancy allocation; 9. Component assignment in reliability systems; 10. Reliability systems with multiple objectives; 11. Other methods for system-reliability optimization; 12. Burn-in optimization under limited capacity; 13. Case study on design for software reliability optimization; 14. Case study on an optimal scheduled-maintenance policy; 15. Case studies on reliability optimization; Appendices; References; Index.