The Reliability FM network

Conveying FMEA Results Abstract Carl and Fred discuss an interesting listener question. The listener’s management asked him to create an “eye-popping” chart that summarizes the results on an FMEA. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how best to share the results of an FMEA with management or engineering. The emphasis is on […]

Supply Management and Context Abstract Greg and Fred discuss why today’s business model is often based on managing an organization’s brand and outsourcing design, reliability, and quality. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss supply context and risk. Topics include: Changes in today’s business and operating models. Changes in how suppliers are evaluated […]

You need to have a good idea of the probability distribution of the TTF of your product when it comes to reliability engineering.

Telling the Boss NO Abstract Greg and Fred discuss work communications and job politics.  Greg takes the management point of view.  Fred advocates the individual contributor point of view. Key Points Have you ever told your boss ‘NO’?  Join Greg and Fred as they discuss boss requirements and individual work expectations. Topics include: How to […]

Many organizations once had a long-term goal or vision. But when the founders retire, or the true leaders move on, these goals can often be replaced by the short-term. That is ... quarterly performance. This means that the 'customers' are seen as the shareholders. Not the 'true customers.' So 'true customers' suffer in the short therm. And the shareholders suffer in the 'long term.' What can you d...

Eye-Popping Stunning Results Abstract Chris and Fred discuss the challenge of being asked by someone to show (or visualize) stunning, eye-popping results for some reliability activity. How do we do this? Is this possible? Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they discuss how we go about demonstrating stunning, eye-popping results for the amount of […]

New Position Advice Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the advice we would give a engineer just starting a career in Reliability Engineering Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the way to best way to learn and apply the many tools and methodology of reliability engineering. Topics include: First seek to understand the […]

Let’s examine a handful of parametric and non-parametric comparison tools, including various hypothesis tests.

Reliability Allocation Methods Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss reliability allocations for individual components and subsystems. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss a question from one of our listeners and why solid state electronics and mechanical systems have significant differences in the intrinsic life entitlements and have to be analyzed with different models […]

Reliability engineering can be a challenging topic to learn, and we are always looking for better ways to help learning ... especially if you are new to the topic. Can perhaps one (1) minute explainer videos help? If yes ... what ideas do you have?

A FRACAS is a 'Failure Reporting and Corrective Action System.' A CMMS is a 'Computerized Maintenance Management System.' What is the difference between the two? Many organizations (for example) have what they call a 'FRACAS,' but it really isn't. Why is that? And does that apply to you?

What is a Mode? Abstract Carl and Fred discuss why understanding the “mode” of failure is essential in Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how the Mode of failure is used in FMEA and other methods. Topics include: Examples of mode of failure Common misunderstandings about Failure […]

This is where taking a breath and understanding our product before we build the wrong thing fast can really helpful.

Common Reliability Mistakes Abstract Carl and Fred discuss some of the most common reliability mistakes they have seen in their careers, both ones they have personally made or viewed. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss common erroneous assumptions and other types of mistakes and how to avoid them. Topics include: Not knowing […]

Selecting Tools to Solve Problems Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss selecting tools to solve problems that are outside of the workplace, too! Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss selecting tools to solve problems that are outside of the workplace, too! Topics include: The many controllable variables of app-enabled coffee machines. How tools […]

Are Silos an Issue? Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss workplace politics: are silos an issue? Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss workplace politics: are silos an issue? Topics include: What silos are, what they may look like, and the ways they are formed. The effects of silos on projects and teams. You […]

Why is PoF so Hard? Abstract Chris and Fred discuss why the Physics of Failure (PoF) is hard to model? … or is it? Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they discuss how the Physics of Failure (PoF) is seen as hard to use to model time to failure of something. It usually needs […]

Let’s explore the steps necessary to obtain valid and valuable process capability ratios. Then, let’s examine how to use this information.

MTBF, Really? Abstract Chris and Fred discuss the MTBF … again. And again. People don’t (want to) get it. So here we go again … Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they discuss the MTBF and why it should virtually never be used. Why? Topics include: What’s wrong with the MTBF when it comes […]

Finding Failures and Firefighting Abstract   Kirk and Fred discuss new product market release schedule pressures, and then after customers start finding reliability issues, the actual firefighting begins. Many times, those who quickly can fix the causes of failures, the firefighters, get many more accolades than those who find and mitigate product weaknesses that become failures during the de...

Proving HALT Works Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the challenge of showing those new to limit discovery using HALT and proving does find relevant future field issues that either already have occurred in a new released product, or in a product under development. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss finding potential weaknesses […]

A Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) can model system reliability. But it can't model a system without 'you.' And that means you need to keep thinking about how your system actually works. An RBD can help. But it is not by itself the answer!

Where do Confidence Bounds Come From Abstract Chris and Fred discuss where the ideas of ‘confidence bounds’ come from … and perhaps what they mean. Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they discuss how we come up with things we call ‘confidence bounds.’ What are they? … and how do they help? Topics include: […]

Differing FMEA Approaches Abstract Carl and Fred discuss their overall approach to FMEA, what works and doesn’t work. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how they approach FMEA to keep it lean, effective and workable. Topics include: Does a longer FMEA make for a better FMEA? If you have the right FMEA […]

Sometimes the equations we need to model reliability are just so complicated that we simply avoid them. Let's use Monte Carlo instead.