Discrete Time Maintenance Model for Hard-to-Access Systems

This study proposes a maintenance policy formulated in discrete time, aimed at hard-to-access systems subject to operational constraints such as periodic visits and limited resources. The policy is defined by two decision variables and integrates concepts from age-based, block, and opportunistic maintenance approaches. The model is evaluated using the renewal reward framework, considering cost rate, system unavailability, and operational reliability as performance criteria. Numerical results show that the proposed policy performs better under adverse conditions. Additionally, a decision support system was developed to facilitate its practical application by non-specialist users. The proposed approach contributes to the efficient management of assets in critical sectors such as energy and sanitation, supporting more accessible and field-compatible decision-making.