Algorithm to Determine the Optimal Spare Inventory Level for Repairable-Item Inventory System

수리가능제품의 최적재고수준의 결정기법

This article concerns the problem of determining the optimal spare inventory level for multiechelon repairable-item inventory system. The system we are concerned has several bases and a central depot. When an item fails, it is dispatched to a repair facility and, a spare, if available, is plugged in immediately. When the failed item is repaired, it is sent to the base and either used to fill a backorder or stored at a spare inventory point. We develop an optimal algorithm to find the spare inventory level at each base spareswhich minimizes the total expected cost and, simultaneously, satisfies a specified minimum service rate. The algorithm is applied to examples with good results.