A systematic review of reliability, availability, maintainability, and dependability (RAMD) modeling for maintenance optimization in production systems: Trends, gaps, and future directions

The application of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Dependability (RAMD) analysis has become increasingly vital for enhancing production system performance and sustainability. This systematic review synthesizes the current state of research, maps applications across industrial sectors, identifies dominant methodologies, and pinpoints critical research gaps. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for publications between January 2010 and February 2026. From 2318 initial records, 110 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing a comprehensive analysis of the field’s evolution up to February 2026. The review reveals predominant application of Markovian processes (74 studies, 67.3%) for availability estimation, with significant clusters in manufacturing, agricultural machinery, and energy systems. A notable trend is the integration of RAMD with metaheuristic algorithms for maintenance optimization. Critical gaps identified include limited studies in educational contexts, insufficient AI integration for predictive RAMD, and inadequate Industry 4.0 frameworks. Future research should focus on developing AI-enhanced RAMD models, creating adaptable frameworks for educational systems, and establishing stronger links between RAMD analysis and sustainability metrics.