Speaking Of Reliability: Friends Discussing Reliability Engineering Topics | Warranty | Plant Maintenance

Building Rapport and Influence Abstract Carl and Fred discussing how to build rapport with colleagues, as one of the steps in shaping and influencing product designs and manufacturing processes. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss techniques in building rapport with people. Many of the tools of reliability engineering require the ability to […]

Maintenance v Product Reliability Engineering Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about the crossover knowledge between asset reliability and product reliability. What are the similarities? What are the differences? What about a potential career change between one and the other? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the body of knowledge […]

Cpk is what we call a 'capability index' and it is a measure of manufacturing process quality. And by that we mean the number of defects we create, and how close we are to specifications. Reliability engineers and designers often don't see a role for them when it comes to manufacturing and Cpk. Is this right?

We are often told that 'quality' and 'reliability' is different. Do customers care if their product fails due to a 'quality' cause or a 'reliability' issue? Truth is that you cannot talk about the one without talking about the other.

Modern Phone Qualification Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing the information needed to determine how to qualify product reliability. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss a listener’s question: Do you have materials that describe different reliability tests done to qualify modern smartphones? Topics include: There is no reliability tests checklist for a product. […]

Value of Certification Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about the value of certification in reliability engineering. Does it help one’s career advancement? Will it enhance one’s salary? What are the pros and cons? Does certification improve one’s prospects internationally? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the subject of training […]

Can Organizations Change Abstract Greg and Fred discuss the increasing requirement for organizations to change. Key Points Greg Hutchins is the new podcast co-conspirator with Fred Schenkelberg. In our first joint podcast, join Fred and Greg as they talk about ‘Can Organizations Change’ in today’s uncertain times.  Listen up as they discuss: Today’s new normal […]

Change Management with Humans Abstract Greg and Fred discuss the range of elements involved with change management. Key Points Join Fred and Greg in this first joint podcast on ‘Change Management with Humans.’  Fred is the quality and reliability guru.  Greg is a risk journeyman.  In these podcasts, we’re going to discuss the intersections and […]

Some organizations make really reliable stuff, but don't have a reliability goal. How can this be? We keep getting told that reliability goals are really important. They most certainly are. Are you confused?

We often ask ourselves (or others) some really questions that are easy to ask, but hard to answer. And most of the time this comes down to us not understanding the decision our question is supposed to support. What is your required confidence? What are the possible outcomes of your decision? How are you testing your samples?

The Future of Reliability Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the future of the field of reliability engineering, including where we have been and where we are going. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how the field of reliability is changing and how this affects each of us. Topics include: The vital-few reliability […]

Unusual Reliability Applications Abstract Carl and Fred discussing unusual and interesting reliability projects that cross disciplines. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss some of their more captivating and unique applications of reliability principles and methods. Topics include: Control systems in the field of evolutionary medicine. Examines the body of knowledge associated with [&#823...

When a Proposal Fails Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the challenge of getting a proposal for new testing (i.e HALT) accepted. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the many aspects of bringing a new approach to reliability development testing. Topics include: The many factors that are important to introducing a new test […]

When to Stop Troubleshooting Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the challenge of when to end efforts in troubleshooting a failure. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss issues surrounding the efforts made to understand the root cause of a failure when they have had trouble recording this podcast. Topics include: In some cases […]

Things will go wrong. Or be unexpected. We can sometimes rush to solve the problem. But it is usually better to take a little bit of extra time to work out what is going on. So how do we do this? Listen to this podcast!

The 'common slope assumption' shouldn't be an assumption. It is a rule that should be checked. If you are doing what we call 'accelerated life testing' or ALT, then you are exposing your system to different stresses in order to speed up time to failure to (for example) replicate 10 years worth of use with two weeks of testing. But if the 'slope' changes, then something bad is happening. Need to le...

Key Characteristics Revisited Abstract Carl and Fred having a new conversation about the age-old topic of key characteristics, and how they are used to improve products and processes. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss what is meant by key characteristics, and the application of key characteristics in achieving high reliability. Topics include: […]

Question Everything Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the value of questioning in the process of learning and personal growth. Students and instructors should question each other as part of learning, engineering teams should question each other as part of achieving consensus. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the role of questions in […]

Obsolescence and Reliability Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the article Kirk wrote titled “Why the Drain in the Bathtub Curve Matters” (see link in notes) about how technological obsolescence, and not product failures are the cause that cause many products to be retired or replaced. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss technological […]

Reliability and Testing Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing how much of reliability engineering is devoted to testing and what other functions should a reliability engineer do. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss what a reliability engineer should be doing before a prototypes or parts are available. Topics include: Reliability engineering traditionally focused […]

Reliability and Bathtub Curve Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the origin and meaning of the reliability “bathtub” curve, and why it is not useful as a visual analogy. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the elements that make up full-life failure distributions, and the consequences of making wrong assumptions. Topics include: What […]

FMEAs and HALT Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the relationship between FMEA (Failure Mode Effects Analysis)  and HALT (Highly Accelerated Limit Test) Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss how informal or formal FMEAs help identify the potential weaknesses in a systems to apply accelerated stress testing. Topics include: FMEAs help to identify […]

Dealing with HALT Fear Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss misunderstandings of the limit testing and believing it’s “just breaking it” Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss what happens when there is not a common understanding of the using of empirical stress limits early in the development of a new product. Topics include: […]

Planning a Reliability Program Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the planning that goes into any reliability program. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss approaches to achieving high reliability. Specifically using the 6-step process. (See Show Notes) Topics include: The 6-step” process to achieve high reliability (See Show Notes) Does the 6-step process […]

People often shy away from statistics. They can be intimidating. They can be confusing. They can be challenging to identify. But we need to use statistics to inform virtually every decision we make. Especially as it relates to reliability engineering. So how do we use statistics in a way that helps us on a daily basis?