Estimating moments of the minimum order statistic from normal populations—a bayesian approach

Let Yⁱ ∽ N(θⁱ, σ i2), i = 1, …, p, be independently distributed, where θⁱ and σ i2 are unknown. A Bayesian approach is used to estimate the first two moments of the minimum order statistic, W = min (Y¹, …, Y^p). In order to compute the Bayes estimates, one has to evaluate the predictive densities of the Yⁱ's conditional on past data. Although the required predictive densities are complicated in form, an efficient algorithm to calculate them has been developed and given in the article. An application of the Bayesian method in a continuous‐review control model with multiple suppliers is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.