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This practically oriented book presents a comprehensive, up-to-date description of multi-state system (MSS) reliability as a natural extension of classical binary-state reliability. It presents all essential theoretical achievements in the field.

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Multi-state System Reliability Analysis and Optimization for Engineers and Industrial Managers presents a comprehensive, up-to-date description of multi-state system (MSS) reliability as a natural extension of classical binary-state reliability. It presents all essential theoretical achievements in the field, but is also practically oriented.

New theoretical issues are described, including:
- combined Markov and semi-Markov processes methods, and universal generating function techniques;
- statistical data processing for MSSs;
- reliability analysis of aging MSSs;
- methods for cost-reliability and cost-availability analysis of MSSs; and
- main definitions and concepts of fuzzy MSS.

Multi-state System Reliability Analysis and Optimization for Engineers and Industrial Managers also discusses life cycle cost analysis and practical optimal decision making for real world MSSs. Numerous examples are included in each section in order to illustrate mathematical tools. Besides these examples, real world MSSs (such as power generating and transmission systems, air-conditioning systems, production systems, etc.) are considered as case studies.

Multi-state System Reliability Analysis and Optimization for Engineers and Industrial Managers also describes basic concepts of MSS, MSS reliability measures and tools for MSS reliability assessment and optimization. It is a self-contained study resource and does not require prior knowledge from its readers, making the book attractive for researchers as well as for practical engineers and industrial managers.

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Multi-state Systems in Nature and Engineering
Modern Stochastic Process Methods for MSS Reliability Assessment
Statistical Analysis of Reliability Data for Real-world MSS´s
Universal Generating Function (UGF) Models
Combined UGF and Stochastic Process Technique
Aging Multi-state Systems
Reliability Associated Costs for MSS and Optimal Management Decisions
Fuzzy Multi-state System

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MATLAB codes provided in the appendix of the book enhance its usefulness for a serious minded researcher who likes to go in depth into the study of MSS.

The book is a stand alone resource and does not require any prior knowledge on the part of a reader. This feature is likely to be appreciated by beginners who are being initiated to MSS reliability analysis. This feature will be particularly useful to the practicing engineers and managers who do not have time to look around and search all the supporting resources. The reviewer feels that this book would also be found useful for researchers, students and teachers.

Krishna B. Misra, International Journal of Performability Engineering

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