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

Vintage Experience Abstract Philip and Fred discuss the value of the experience our co-workers may be able to share. How important is Mentoring in the Workplace? Should we all be mentors? How do we collaborate with a cross functional team that is built through the many generations and Leveridge the experience and foster the growth […]

Shorter Lifespan of Newer Appliances Abstract Carl and Fred discuss an article from the Wall Street Journal describing how newer appliances tend to have more complexity and shorter lifespans, and what can be done to reverse the trend. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the factors that influence reliability in large, complex […]

Value of Design FMEA Abstract Carl and Fred discuss an interesting question from a listener about modeling the money value of Design FMEAs. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss whether it is possible to predict the cost savings due to design changes driven by Design FMEA. Topics include: The challenge of predicting […]

Lots of organizations really struggle with projecting returns. Big time. They often say the only data they have is the number of things sold in a month, versus the number of products returned. Really? So you have no idea which customer is returning the product? No idea when that customer purchased that product ... even just to confirm it was returned in the warranty period? Most organizations actu...

The 2017 Atlanta Airport Blackout was caused by an electrical fire that took out the main power supply cables, ... and the backup power cables that were located in the same tunnel. This simply can't happen when organizations take reliability seriously. So if you want to learn how 'not' to do something like this ... listen to this podcast!

Customer Support Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss the challenges as a customer when calling for customer support. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss customer support. Topics include: why current contact methods make it seem that customers are not a priority. the missing link: the problem the customer is facing. how changing the […]

Getting Questions Answered Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss the challenges in asking others reliability questions and getting questions answered. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss getting questions answered about reliability. Topics include: places to ask questions being able to say “failure” ways to look at asking questions to help you ask yours […]

Moose Lodge Syndrome Abstract Greg and Fred discuss how institutions can and should adapt, but often don’t.  The result is that even most Fortune 500 companies have a 10 year half life. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss the inability of organizations to change and pivot.  ‘Moose Lodge Syndrome’ is a metaphor […]

Check Your (Decision Making) Bias Abstract Greg and Fred discuss how bias is a part of all of us.  Our challenge is that bias impacts our decision making from simple rules of thumb to complex decisions. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss heuristic and complex decision making.   Topics include: What are decision […]

The 'hazard rate' and 'failure rate' are terms that are often used by reliability engineers. Sometimes they are used in ways that make them seem as if they are the same thing. But are they? If you don't know ... then listen to this podcast!

Field data is often too simple. For example, we might only have usage or times to failure in terms of calendar time where we know the date our product was installed, and the date when it failed. But what if our product isn't being used the whole time? ... or being used at different rates? ... and it is this time and rate that affects failure? What do we do?

Risk vs Reliability Abstract Carl and Fred discuss whether the reliability community should focus on the body of knowledge associated with risk or reliability. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss risk versus reliability, and how they interact in bringing about safe and economical products. Topics include: Risk as uncertainty Is everything focused […]

When I Know it’s Not Right Abstract Carl and Fred discuss a question brought up at recent conference: what do you do when you are supposed to do something that you know is not the right thing to do? The context was reliability engineering and management. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss […]

When to Consider Reliability Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss at what point in the product development process should we consider applying reliability engineering to the concept and actual prototypes. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the reliability process and reliability tools and methods and when to apply them. Topics include: Reliability development […]

Predicting the Unknowns Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the world of reliability predictions and the issue of predictions when many, if not most of the causes of unreliability, are surprises. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss use of good design rules and building in some margins of safety, but yet when the […]

If you want to be a good reliability engineer ... be helpful. If you are helpful, then people will come back to you. It doesn't matter if you work as a consultant or in a cell in an organization. Too many reliability engineers are more focused on 'doing things right' ... which is another way of saying that we often want people to do things the 'perfect' way as we see it. But being helpful is more...

Reliability (and lots of other types of) engineering relies on equations. Especially statistical equations. But do you know what equations represent or mean? This might sound like 'next level' academia that you don't want to touch. But if you know what formulae and equations represent, it is actually easier to use them because you can link them to tangible concepts in your mind. Want to learn more...

Change Management Success Abstract Greg and Fred discuss organizational change management and behavior change.  Greg’s change management is sell the sizzle.  Fred’s is give them the steak.  Discover why? Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they share change management stories including tips and tools for success.   Topics include: What is change management? How can […]

Contingency and Risk Planning Abstract Greg and Fred discuss various situations where contingency and risk planning may be required. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss contingency and risk ‘what if’ planning.  Topics include: When should a contingency and risk plan be developed. How to develop a contingency plan. What are the critical […]

Do you know if a fault tree is better than a reliability block diagram? Do you need to model system reliability ... and need to pick one approach? Never heard of these modeling methodologies? Listen to this podcast!

A lot of people 'know' what a 'k out of n' system is. But do you know if it mimics are series or parallel system when young? How does the answer change when it is old? If you don't know the answer ... listen to this podcast and see if you can learn something to help your system reliability performance!

FMEA Detection – Useful? Abstract Carl and Fred discuss a reader question about assessing risk related to detection, as part of FMEA procedure, specifically its usefulness and application. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss FMEA detection in FMEA. Topics include: What is FMEA detection? How is FMEA detection assessed in FMEA? What […]

Reliability Goals and Requirements Abstract Carl and Fred discuss the importance of well-written reliability requirements and whether they should be goals or actual requirements. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss reliability goals and requirements. Topics include: Project goals or metrics are not sufficient What to do if reliability is difficult to measure […]

Redundancy Risk Balance Abstract Greg and Fred discuss what is redundancy and why it’s a critical business tool. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss process and product redundancy in a world that wants to reduce friction and be lean. Topics include: What is redundancy? Why redundancy is important in a lean world? […]

Risk and Reliability Lenses Abstract Greg and Fred discuss risk and reliability lenses for solving today’s dynamic problems. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss the intersection of risk and reliability lenses under uncertainty.  Fred says: “Reliability is the critical lens to understanding  and addressing today’s engineering problems”.  Greg, a one-trick pony, say...