IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ejores/v322y2025i3p725-739.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fifty years of maintenance optimization: Reflections and perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Arts, Joachim
  • Boute, Robert N.
  • Loeys, Stijn
  • van Staden, Heletjé E.

Abstract

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO), we share our perspectives and reflections on maintenance research. We review the main methods and techniques for optimizing when and what to maintain, providing concrete examples as illustrations. We also discuss the optimization of the logistics support system surrounding the act of maintenance. In doing so, we highlight the multidisciplinary nature of maintenance research and its interface with other domains, such as spare parts inventory management, production scheduling, and transportation planning. We support our reflections with basic text-mining analyses of the archive of the European Journal of Operational Research, the journal published in collaboration with EURO. With this paper, we introduce interested researchers to maintenance optimization and share opportunities to close the gaps between the current state of research and real-world needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Arts, Joachim & Boute, Robert N. & Loeys, Stijn & van Staden, Heletjé E., 2025. "Fifty years of maintenance optimization: Reflections and perspectives," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 322(3), pages 725-739.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:322:y:2025:i:3:p:725-739
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2024.07.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377221724005241
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ejor.2024.07.002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Glazebrook, K. D. & Mitchell, H. M. & Ansell, P. S., 2005. "Index policies for the maintenance of a collection of machines by a set of repairmen," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(1), pages 267-284, August.
    2. Jackson, Canek & Pascual, Rodrigo, 2008. "Optimal maintenance service contract negotiation with aging equipment," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(2), pages 387-398, September.
    3. Dursun, İpek & Akçay, Alp & van Houtum, Geert-Jan, 2022. "Age-based maintenance under population heterogeneity: Optimal exploration and exploitation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(3), pages 1007-1020.
    4. Haque, Lani & Armstrong, Michael J., 2007. "A survey of the machine interference problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(2), pages 469-482, June.
    5. Bautista, Lucía & Castro, Inma T. & Landesa, Luis, 2022. "Condition-based maintenance for a system subject to multiple degradation processes with stochastic arrival intensity," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 302(2), pages 560-574.
    6. Bertrand, J.W.M. & Fransoo, Jan C. & Udenio, Maximiliano, 2023. "Model-based research," Other publications TiSEM a4604c6c-f35c-4d85-ba6e-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Deep, Akash & Zhou, Shiyu & Veeramani, Dharmaraj & Chen, Yong, 2023. "Partially observable Markov decision process-based optimal maintenance planning with time-dependent observations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 311(2), pages 533-544.
    8. Wang, Xiaolin & Zhao, Xiujie & Liu, Bin, 2020. "Design and pricing of extended warranty menus based on the multinomial logit choice model," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 237-250.
    9. Chen, Nan & Ye, Zhi-Sheng & Xiang, Yisha & Zhang, Linmiao, 2015. "Condition-based maintenance using the inverse Gaussian degradation model," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 243(1), pages 190-199.
    10. Denise D. Tönissen & Joachim J. Arts & Zuo-Jun (Max) Shen, 2019. "Maintenance Location Routing for Rolling Stock Under Line and Fleet Planning Uncertainty," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(5), pages 1252-1270, September.
    11. Poppe, Joeri & Boute, Robert N. & Lambrecht, Marc R., 2018. "A hybrid condition-based maintenance policy for continuously monitored components with two degradation thresholds," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(2), pages 515-532.
    12. C. Drent & S. Kapodistria & J. A. C. Resing, 2019. "Condition-based maintenance policies under imperfect maintenance at scheduled and unscheduled opportunities," Queueing Systems: Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 269-308, December.
    13. Romeijnders, Ward & Teunter, Ruud & van Jaarsveld, Willem, 2012. "A two-step method for forecasting spare parts demand using information on component repairs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 220(2), pages 386-393.
    14. Chiel van Oosterom & Lisa M. Maillart & Jeffrey P. Kharoufeh, 2017. "Optimal maintenance policies for a safety‐critical system and its deteriorating sensor," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(5), pages 399-417, August.
    15. Hu, Qiwei & Boylan, John E. & Chen, Huijing & Labib, Ashraf, 2018. "OR in spare parts management: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 266(2), pages 395-414.
    16. Deprez, Laurens & Antonio, Katrien & Boute, Robert, 2021. "Pricing service maintenance contracts using predictive analytics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(2), pages 530-545.
    17. Gopalan, Ram, 2014. "The Aircraft Maintenance Base Location Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 236(2), pages 634-642.
    18. Thomas, L. C. & Osaki, Shunji, 1978. "An optimal ordering policy for a spare unit with lead time," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 2(6), pages 409-419, November.
    19. Huber, Sebastian & Spinler, Stefan, 2012. "Pricing of full-service repair contracts," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(1), pages 113-121.
    20. Van der Auweraer, Sarah & Boute, Robert N. & Syntetos, Aris A., 2019. "Forecasting spare part demand with installed base information: A review," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 181-196.
    21. P. J. Colen & M. R. Lambrecht, 2013. "Product service systems: exploring operational practices," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(5), pages 501-515, April.
    22. Gara-Ali, Ahmed & Finke, Gerd & Espinouse, Marie-Laure, 2016. "Parallel-machine scheduling with maintenance: Praising the assignment problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 252(1), pages 90-97.
    23. Richard Barlow & Larry Hunter, 1960. "Optimum Preventive Maintenance Policies," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 8(1), pages 90-100, February.
    24. Wang, Ting & Baldacci, Roberto & Lim, Andrew & Hu, Qian, 2018. "A branch-and-price algorithm for scheduling of deteriorating jobs and flexible periodic maintenance on a single machine," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(3), pages 826-838.
    25. Yeh, Ruey Huei & Lo, Hui-Chiung, 2001. "Optimal preventive-maintenance warranty policy for repairable products," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(1), pages 59-69, October.
    26. Olde Keizer, Minou C.A. & Teunter, Ruud H. & Veldman, Jasper, 2017. "Joint condition-based maintenance and inventory optimization for systems with multiple components," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(1), pages 209-222.
    27. Bei, Xiaoqiang & Zhu, Xiaoyan & Coit, David W., 2019. "A risk-averse stochastic program for integrated system design and preventive maintenance planning," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(2), pages 536-548.
    28. Collin Drent & Melvin Drent & Joachim Arts, 2024. "Condition-Based Production for Stochastically Deteriorating Systems: Optimal Policies and Learning," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 1137-1156, May.
    29. van Staden, Heletjé E. & Boute, Robert N., 2021. "The effect of multi-sensor data on condition-based maintenance policies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(2), pages 585-600.
    30. James E. Eckles, 1968. "Optimum Maintenance with Incomplete Information," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(5), pages 1058-1067, October.
    31. van Noortwijk, J.M., 2009. "A survey of the application of gamma processes in maintenance," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 2-21.
    32. Urbani, Michele & Brunelli, Matteo & Punkka, Antti, 2023. "An approach for bi-objective maintenance scheduling on a networked system with limited resources," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(1), pages 101-113.
    33. Thomas A. Feo & Jonathan F. Bard, 1989. "Flight Scheduling and Maintenance Base Planning," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(12), pages 1415-1432, December.
    34. Lalla-Ruiz, Eduardo & Voß, Stefan, 2016. "Modeling the Parallel Machine Scheduling Problem with Step Deteriorating Jobs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 255(1), pages 21-33.
    35. Shafiee, Mahmood & Chukova, Stefanka, 2013. "Maintenance models in warranty: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(3), pages 561-572.
    36. Hao Zhang & Weihua Zhang, 2023. "Analytical Solution to a Partially Observable Machine Maintenance Problem with Obvious Failures," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(7), pages 3993-4015, July.
    37. Craig C. Sherbrooke, 1968. "Metric: A Multi-Echelon Technique for Recoverable Item Control," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(1), pages 122-141, February.
    38. da Costa, Paulo & Verleijsdonk, Peter & Voorberg, Simon & Akcay, Alp & Kapodistria, Stella & van Jaarsveld, Willem & Zhang, Yingqian, 2023. "Policies for the dynamic traveling maintainer problem with alerts," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(3), pages 1141-1152.
    39. Collin Drent & Melvin Drent & Joachim Arts & Stella Kapodistria, 2023. "Real-Time Integrated Learning and Decision Making for Cumulative Shock Degradation," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 25(1), pages 235-253, January.
    40. Zhu, Qiushi & Peng, Hao & Timmermans, Bas & van Houtum, Geert-Jan, 2017. "A condition-based maintenance model for a single component in a system with scheduled and unscheduled downs," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 365-380.
    41. Wang, Wenbin, 2012. "A stochastic model for joint spare parts inventory and planned maintenance optimisation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 216(1), pages 127-139.
    42. Carlos Lagos & Felipe Delgado & Mathias A. Klapp, 2020. "Dynamic Optimization for Airline Maintenance Operations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(4), pages 998-1015, July.
    43. Wu, Shaomin & Wu, Di & Peng, Rui, 2023. "Considering greenhouse gas emissions in maintenance optimisation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(3), pages 1135-1145.
    44. Drent, Collin & Keizer, Minou Olde & Houtum, Geert-Jan van, 2020. "Dynamic dispatching and repositioning policies for fast-response service networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(2), pages 583-598.
    45. Michael Jong Kim & Viliam Makis, 2013. "Joint Optimization of Sampling and Control of Partially Observable Failing Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 61(3), pages 777-790, June.
    46. Huang, Yonghui & Guo, Xianping, 2011. "Finite horizon semi-Markov decision processes with application to maintenance systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 212(1), pages 131-140, July.
    47. Topal, Erkan & Ramazan, Salih, 2010. "A new MIP model for mine equipment scheduling by minimizing maintenance cost," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 207(2), pages 1065-1071, December.
    48. Xia, Tangbin & Xi, Lifeng & Zhou, Xiaojun & Lee, Jay, 2012. "Dynamic maintenance decision-making for series–parallel manufacturing system based on MAM–MTW methodology," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(1), pages 231-240.
    49. Olde Keizer, Minou C.A. & Flapper, Simme Douwe P. & Teunter, Ruud H., 2017. "Condition-based maintenance policies for systems with multiple dependent components: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 261(2), pages 405-420.
    50. Parada Puig, J.E. & Basten, R.J.I., 2015. "Defining line replaceable units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(1), pages 310-320.
    51. Alaa H. Elwany & Nagi Z. Gebraeel & Lisa M. Maillart, 2011. "Structured Replacement Policies for Components with Complex Degradation Processes and Dedicated Sensors," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 59(3), pages 684-695, June.
    52. Kurt, Murat & Kharoufeh, Jeffrey P., 2010. "Optimally maintaining a Markovian deteriorating system with limited imperfect repairs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(2), pages 368-380, September.
    53. Gámiz, María Luz & Limnios, Nikolaos & Segovia-García, María del Carmen, 2023. "Hidden markov models in reliability and maintenance," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 304(3), pages 1242-1255.
    54. Tönissen, D.D. & Arts, J.J., 2020. "The stochastic maintenance location routing allocation problem for rolling stock," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    55. Geurtsen, M. & Didden, Jeroen B.H.C. & Adan, J. & Atan, Z. & Adan, I., 2023. "Production, maintenance and resource scheduling: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(2), pages 501-529.
    56. de Jonge, Bram & Scarf, Philip A., 2020. "A review on maintenance optimization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 805-824.
    57. Joachim Arts & Rob Basten, 2018. "Design of multi-component periodic maintenance programs with single-component models," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(7), pages 606-615, July.
    58. Lucía Bautista & Inma Torres Castro & Luis Landesa, 2022. "Maintenance of a System Subject to Multiple Degradation Processes with Cox Arrivals," Lecture Notes in Operations Research, in: Norbert Trautmann & Mario Gnägi (ed.), Operations Research Proceedings 2021, pages 397-402, Springer.
    59. Michiel A. J. uit het Broek & Ruud H. Teunter & Bram de Jonge & Jasper Veldman & Nicky D. Van Foreest, 2020. "Condition-Based Production Planning: Adjusting Production Rates to Balance Output and Failure Risk," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(4), pages 792-811, July.
    60. Chiel van Oosterom & Hao Peng & Geert-Jan van Houtum, 2017. "Maintenance optimization for a Markovian deteriorating system with population heterogeneity," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(1), pages 96-109, January.
    61. Zohrul Kabir, A. B. M. & Al-Olayan, Ahmed S., 1996. "A stocking policy for spare part provisioning under age based preventive replacement," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 171-181, April.
    62. Olde Keizer, Minou C.A. & Teunter, Ruud H. & Veldman, Jasper, 2016. "Clustering condition-based maintenance for systems with redundancy and economic dependencies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 251(2), pages 531-540.
    63. Zhang, Nan & Fouladirad, Mitra & Barros, Anne & Zhang, Jun, 2020. "Condition-based maintenance for a K-out-of-N deteriorating system under periodic inspection with failure dependence," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 159-167.
    64. Andersen, Jesper Fink & Andersen, Anders Reenberg & Kulahci, Murat & Nielsen, Bo Friis, 2022. "A numerical study of Markov decision process algorithms for multi-component replacement problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(3), pages 898-909.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. de Jonge, Bram & Scarf, Philip A., 2020. "A review on maintenance optimization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 805-824.
    2. Eggertsson, Ragnar & Eruguz, Ayse Sena & Basten, Rob & Maillart, Lisa M., 2025. "Maintenance optimization for multi-component systems with a single sensor," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 320(3), pages 559-569.
    3. Xu, Jianyu & Liu, Bin & Zhao, Xiujie & Wang, Xiao-Lin, 2024. "Online reinforcement learning for condition-based group maintenance using factored Markov decision processes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(1), pages 176-190.
    4. Ece Zeliha Demirci & Joachim Arts & Geert-Jan van Houtum, 2025. "A restless bandit approach for capacitated condition based maintenance scheduling," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 179-207, March.
    5. van Staden, Heletjé E. & Deprez, Laurens & Boute, Robert N., 2022. "A dynamic “predict, then optimize” preventive maintenance approach using operational intervention data," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 302(3), pages 1079-1096.
    6. Liu, Bin & Pandey, Mahesh D. & Wang, Xiaolin & Zhao, Xiujie, 2021. "A finite-horizon condition-based maintenance policy for a two-unit system with dependent degradation processes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 295(2), pages 705-717.
    7. Cai, Yue & de Jonge, Bram & Teunter, Ruud H., 2025. "Data-driven condition-based maintenance optimization given limited data," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 324(1), pages 324-334.
    8. Cai, Yue & Teunter, Ruud H. & de Jonge, Bram, 2023. "A data-driven approach for condition-based maintenance optimization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 311(2), pages 730-738.
    9. Azizi, Fariba & Salari, Nooshin, 2023. "A novel condition-based maintenance framework for parallel manufacturing systems based on bivariate birth/birth–death processes," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    10. Kıvanç, İpek & Fecarotti, Claudia & Raassens, Néomie & van Houtum, Geert-Jan, 2025. "Condition-based maintenance for multi-component systems: A scalable optimization model with two thresholds," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    11. Leppinen, Jussi & Punkka, Antti & Ekholm, Tommi & Salo, Ahti, 2025. "An optimization model for determining cost-efficient maintenance policies for multi-component systems with economic and structural dependencies," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    12. Deep, Akash & Zhou, Shiyu & Veeramani, Dharmaraj & Chen, Yong, 2023. "Partially observable Markov decision process-based optimal maintenance planning with time-dependent observations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 311(2), pages 533-544.
    13. Andersen, Jesper Fink & Andersen, Anders Reenberg & Kulahci, Murat & Nielsen, Bo Friis, 2022. "A numerical study of Markov decision process algorithms for multi-component replacement problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 299(3), pages 898-909.
    14. Jun Wang & Yuyang Wang & Yuqiang Fu, 2023. "Joint Optimization of Condition-Based Maintenance and Performance Control for Linear Multi-State Consecutively Connected Systems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, June.
    15. Collin Drent & Melvin Drent & Joachim Arts, 2024. "Condition-Based Production for Stochastically Deteriorating Systems: Optimal Policies and Learning," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 1137-1156, May.
    16. Kivanç, İpek & Fecarotti, Claudia & Raassens, Néomie & van Houtum, Geert-Jan, 2024. "A scalable multi-objective maintenance optimization model for systems with multiple heterogeneous components and a finite lifespan," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(2), pages 567-579.
    17. Liu, Gehui & Chen, Shaokuan & Ho, Tinkin & Ran, Xinchen & Mao, Baohua & Lan, Zhen, 2022. "Optimum opportunistic maintenance schedule over variable horizons considering multi-stage degradation and dynamic strategy," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    18. Uit Het Broek, Michiel A.J. & Teunter, Ruud H. & de Jonge, Bram & Veldman, Jasper, 2021. "Joint condition-based maintenance and load-sharing optimization for two-unit systems with economic dependency," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 295(3), pages 1119-1131.
    19. Andersen, Jesper Fink & Nielsen, Bo Friis, 2025. "A comparative study of time-based maintenance and condition-based maintenance for multi-component systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    20. Zhao, Xiujie & Liu, Bin & Xu, Jianyu & Wang, Xiao-Lin, 2023. "Imperfect maintenance policies for warranted products under stochastic performance degradation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(1), pages 150-165.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:322:y:2025:i:3:p:725-739. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/eor .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.