Models in design for reliability optimisation

This paper presents a state of the art review of the vibrant and fast growing field of reliability optimisation in design as it was in the early 1980s, when the field had started to gain attention, to date; in terms of research and development of theories and applications. The field is classified into the pertinent existing reliability optimisation strategies and the types of optimisation models employed. The solution methods used are also discussed. The models are critically reviewed and gaps needing attention noted. Particularly noted was the dominance of redundancy allocation optimisation over other strategies such as reliability allocation optimisation which virtues have not been fully explored. Attention is drawn also to the scarcity of multi-objective optimisation models in the literature, even though typically real life reliability optimisation problems are of that nature. The discussions are concluded by drawing attention to potential model formulations of the multiobjective type.