This paper considers the parameter estimation problem of the failure intensity function and maintenance effect in a repairable system. We propose estimation procedures for repairable systems on which preventive maintenance is performed. The failure process is modeled by a proportional age reduction model [Brown, Mahoney and Sivazlian(1983)] which is useful to model the imperfect effect of preventive maintenance. When failure and maintenance (preventive) times are given, the maximum likelihood method is used to estimate the maintenance effect and the parameters of intensity function, simultaneously We obtain the maximum likelihood estimators using a genetic algorithm. A numerical example is also presented.