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Exponential age sensitive method for failure rank estimation
Author(s) -
Campean I. F.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
quality and reliability engineering international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1099-1638
pISSN - 0748-8017
DOI - 10.1002/1099-1638(200007/08)16:4<291::aid-qre339>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - estimator , censoring (clinical trials) , statistics , mathematics , failure rate , bayesian probability , piecewise , mathematical analysis
This paper presents a new method for estimating the modified failure ranks used for probability plotting and least squares estimation from randomly censored failure samples. The proposed method uses a Bayesian smoothed piecewise hazard rate approximation to derive modified failure ranks that are sensitive to the age at censoring. Using a simulation study, the new estimator is shown to be more robust than the known failure ranks estimators, particularly for heavy censoring and small failure samples. Practical use includes field failure data analysis, for which the survival and failure probability predictions are more realistic, i.e. less pessimistic, when the new estimator is used compared with predictions obtained from using the traditional Johnson method for failure rank estimators. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.