Integrating Simulation and Optimization to Analyze Maintenance Policies Performances for Complex Systems

In this paper, a new approach which integrates the optimization algorithms and the simulation methods is proposed to analyze the maintenance strategies of complexes systems in which operating characteristics deteriorate with use and whose lifetime and repair duration are random. The simulation language RAO (Resource-Action-Operation) is used to implement the proposed approach. Numerical examples are carried out to validate the approach flexibility and efficiency. RAO is a discrete events simulator. This tool proposes a great flexibility of modelization, that allows one to keep track of each resource's evolution and even offers animation possibilitie