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

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 […]

Storage of Test Parts Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing the effects of handling, cumulative test, and storage of test parts on test results. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss experiences of when testing product went awry because of handling, cumulative test, and storage of test parts. Topics include: identifying the true failure […]

Dianna and Fred discussing the history and application of published parts count prediction models and standards in reliability analysis.

Metrics and Games Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question on maintenance strategies, and a company mandate metric comparing preventive and corrective maintenance tasks. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how metrics can become a numbers game if they are used incorrectly. Topics include: Sometimes a metric can alter behavior in […]

The Value of Curiosity Abstract Carl and Fred discussing what brings enjoyment to one’s life and work, and how to explore and learn, with curiosity. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the value of curiosity in our day-to-day work. Topics include: Using what we know in science and engineering to understand problems […]

It is sometimes difficult to express reliability performance to users or customers. It is all well and good to say that something has a 97.8 % reliability at three years when driven in certain conditions. But different customers will create different conditions. So this number is often irrelevant. How do we give our customers and users a 'reliability score' that means something but isn't just made up?