Nonparametric Bayesian Approach for Optimal Burn-in

Abstract

A nonparametric method, which is simple and can effectively handle the system burn-in time, was introduced in Chapter 9 in situation where only a few failure times are available. The nonparametric approach can avoid the difficulties of

• • assuming any parametric form for the component’s failure mechanism,

• • estimating the parameters of the assumed parametric distributions,

• • calculating the overall system reliability, which is especially difficult when the system structure is complicated, and

• • modeling the incompatibility factor described in Chapter 7.