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

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?

How do you identify a 'good' supplier? Many organizations focus on the 'supplies.' This means value for money, apparent capacity and capabilities and so on. But what happens when you need an issue to be resolved ... and your supplier needs to be part of the solution. If you have just selected suppliers based on the supplies ... then good luck! It is usually much more useful to focus on the human b...

Achieving or Calculating Reliability Abstract Carl and Fred discuss which reliability methods add more value to a project or program: those methods that are centered around calculating reliability or those methods that predominently support achieving reliability. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the difference bwtween reliablity methods that calculate reliability and those […]

Thoughts on ISO Standards Abstract Carl and Fred discuss ISO standards and how they impact quality and reliablity of products.  The discussion begins with the ISO 9000 series and proceeds to a discussion of standards in general. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the impact of ISO 9000 series and other ISO […]

We are surrounded with wonderful 'smart' technology and increasingly amazing manifestations of technology. But what about the basics? Reliability engineering is primarily about the basics. And you might be shocked as to how many reliability engineers out there aren't as on top of the basics as they think they are?

We always want to be 'confident.' But what does that mean? Is it the way you carry yourself? Is it a statistical concept? Is it passing a test? Is it the belief you have that you will pass the test? Or is it knowing that you have designed your product right. Yes.

HALT and Safety Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the relationship between reliability, the fundamental limits of technology, and safety. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss possible risks to human life and how the highest priority in reliability is any failure that leads to safety risks. Topics include: Making a product more robust […]

A Great Customer Experience Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing Kirk’s experience with a new pinball machine’s component failures and the manufacturer. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss recent failures of a new pinball machine and the rapid response of the manufacturer to respond and send replacement parts. Topics include: Details on a  […]

How Well to Know Failure Mechanisms Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the underlying mechanisms of failure, and how they impact our analysis and understanding of reliability. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the broad subject of failure mechanisms. Many of the tools of reliability, such as FMEA, RCA, design guidelines, test design, […]

Is There a Better Way than RPN? Abstract Carl and Fred take on the subject of Risk Priority Number, also called RPN, when used in FMEA. Is RPN a good way to prioritize risk in an FMEA, or is there a better way? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss different ways to […]

What Reliability is Good Enough Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the expectations of reliability of their own vehicles  and some of the wear out mechanisms we expect. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the expectations of reliability in new products. Topics include: How reliable does a product have to be? Li-ion Battery […]

What is the Failure Mechanism? Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing a very important question in all of unreliability. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the counting of failures and rate of failures to determine reliability assessments without looking closely at the failure mechanisms. Topics include: Fatigue life in membrane touch switches is […]

What is 'risk?' If you think there is some enshrined definition of 'risk' ... think again. Some 'experts' think 'risk' is simply about uncertainty. Others think that 'risk' is all about the likelihood of bad things occurring. And standards aren't much help either. So what can you do? Listen to this podcast first ...

Hospital Power Supply Modeling Abstract Chris and Fred discuss a real-world problem … how do we use reliability engineering tools to work out how select a hospital power supply system. Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they discuss how we can use reliability engineering to do ‘non-traditional’ things like select a backup power supply […]

Podcasting and Reliability Abstract James and Fred discussing how to know when you’re successful with a podcast. Key Points Join James and Fred as they discuss the importance of engagement when running a niche podcast. Topics include: People are listening and saying thanks Downloads is not enough – it’s the engagement, comments, questions. There are […]

Time to Market and Reliability Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing companies making reliability a priority early in the product development as opposed to waiting to after market release to see if it’s reliability. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss new product reliability development early and late. Topics include: Introducing new technology that […]