Identify Weak Points Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing how a good reliability development process is to identify the weaknesses to improve a product including a recent fence repair at Kirk’s house. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss how a fence repair specialist identify a weakness in a fence and gate support structure […]

Confirmation Bias Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the paths they took in Reliability Engineering, how our past experience shaped our view of the best methods for improving the reliability of systems, and how we learn new information on reliability issues. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss their paths to their current frame […]

Failure to Adjust Abstract Greg and Fred discussing why people have a hard time adjusting and pivoting in times of uncertainty, much like what we all experience today. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss why people have a difficult time adjusting to change.  Personal change.   Change in weather.  Or, change in anything. […]

Supply Chain Tradeoffs Abstract Greg and Fred discussing the tradeoffs in reshoring.  Many companies are considering bringing design and manufacturing back to the US or host country. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss reshoring or bringing manufacturing back to the US.  The challenge is the US has lost much of its engineering […]

Accountability is important. Except when you are trying to find 'someone else' who is accountable. Finding someone to blame (so you can hypothetically sue) does not improve or fix the problem. In fact, the fastest and cheapest solutions to many of the problems us reliability engineers routinely face is a multi-disciplinary approach where everyone works together in order to solve the issue. This means we find the fastest, simplest and cheapest solutions. And no one is every blamed!

We can sometimes be frustrated by vendors or suppliers not giving us the reliability data we need to do our 'reliability stuff?' Can we glean something from their advertised warranty period? Can we somehow 'reverse engineer' the underlying warranty reliability if we make some assumptions about the cost of failure and profit margin?

Uniqueness of Reliability Engineers Abstract Philip and Fred discussing a handful of traits that may be unique to reliability engineers. Key Points Join Philip and Fred as they discuss what makes reliability engineering attract ‘particular’ types of people. Topics include: Curiosity with how things fail The ability to deal with and learn from failures The […]

Listing of Failure Mechanisms Abstract Philip and Fred discussing a question about locating a listing of failure mechanisms. Key Points Join Philip and Fred as they discuss a listing of all failure mechanisms that probably doesn’t exist due to sheer magnitude of the number of mechanisms that exist. Topics include: We do not know of a […]

Professional Societies: The Rules Have Changed Abstract Greg and Fred discussing how The Rules Have Changed for Professional Societies as well as for most of us. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss the role of professional societies such as IEEE, ASME, ASQ, and others in the age of social media and fast […]

Quality of Decisions Abstract Greg and Fred discussing how people make important decisions and why decision quality is important. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss Topics include: Why is decision making in reliability important. How to use reliability tools for effective decision making. What are the critical steps in Fred’s new book […]