Stochastic Comparisons Between Lifetimes of Reliability Systems With Exchangeable Components

Abstract

In this article we present several results pertaining to the stochastic comparison of the lifetimes of two reliability systems with exchangeable components. More specifically, we provide signature-based sufficient and necessary conditions for establishing hazard rate and reverse hazard rate orderings. Finally, focusing on the class of consecutive-type systems, we illustrate how the general results can be exploited to deduce several stochastic orderings among members of this class.