On Component Redundancy Versus System Redundancy for a $k$-out-of-$n$ System

Abstract

Precedence order is a natural type of comparison for random variables in numerous engineering applications (e.g., for the stress-strength modeling). In this note, we show that, for a $k$-out-of-$n$ system, redundancy at the component level is superior to that at the system level with respect to the stochastic precedence order. Cases of active and cold redundancy are considered. Similar results for other stochastic orders were intensively discussed in the literature.