Parameter Estimation for Type III Discrete Weibull Distribution: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The type III discrete Weibull distribution can be used in reliability analysis for modeling failure data such as the number of shocks, cycles, or runs a component or a structure can overcome before failing. This paper describes three methods for estimating its parameters: two customary techniques and a technique particularly suitable for discrete distributions, which, in contrast to the two other techniques, provides analytical estimates, whose derivation is detailed here. The techniques’ peculiarities and practical limits are outlined. A Monte Carlo simulation study has been performed to assess the statistical performance of these methods for different parameter combinations and sample sizes and then give some indication for their mindful use. Two applications of real data are provided with the aim of showing how the type III discrete Weibull distribution can fit real data, even better than other popular discrete models, and how the inferential procedures work. A software implementation of the model is also provided.