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

Evolution and Reliability Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the evolution of technology and reliability in consumer products. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss reasons people are motivated to replace old technologies with new technologies. Topics include: Many people prefer sticking with older technology that has been proved reliable over learning to use […]

Reliability is Green Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing a recent opinion article in the New York Times on technology waste. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the challenge of the rapid introduction of new technologies and disposal of the old technology. Topics include: Sometimes we look for an excuse to upgrade to […]

Many organizations are 'reactive.' They spend most of their resources 'fighting fires.' Even when they know they want to change to a 'proactive reliability organization' ... it is hard to do. Sound like your organization?

Reliability Starts at the Top Abstract Chris and Fred discuss how reliability starts at the top of every organization. And by that, we mean … leadership. What does that mean? How can the CEO be more important for reliability performance than the reliability engineer with decades of experience and post-graduate qualifications? Key Points Join Chris […]

More Than One Root Cause Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the subject of root cause. How many “root causes” can there be? Is there only one “root cause” for a problem? What about events or conditions that happen in tandem? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how many events or conditions can […]

Reliability and Risk Management Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the relationship of reliability and risk management, including areas of overlap and linkages. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the body of knowledge of reliability and how it relates to risk management. Definition of “risk” Technical risk vs business risk Preparation can reduce […]

Suspected or Known Problem Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the challenge of finding a latent problem in a product after your company has been producing and selling for some time. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss dealing with a latent reliability problem that may exist in a certain percentage of the product […]

Reliability Expectations Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing how we continue to evolve our reliability expectations  as technology becomes more robust and reliable. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the progress of expectations of reliability in cars, and electronics, have become more reliable. Topics include: Sensors, like tire pressure monitors on each tire […]

We need information to make decisions. And when our decisions involve random processes ... information can become a little problematic. Sometimes we are forced to take measurements of different outcomes of a random process. We call these 'samples.' You may have done something like this in high school when you measured the heights of your fellow students to plot a histogram to get some idea of the random nature of student height. But how many student heights do you need to get to be comfortable you know enough about all student heights? We call the number of students whose height you measure the 'sample size.' Do you need to learn more about working out the sample size for something you are working on?

Accelerated testing is great in that you can compress a lot of 'real-life' use in a short amount of test time. But if you want to use this accelerated test data to learn about reliability in 'real-life' conditions, then you need to really know what you are doing. Keen to learn more? Listen to this podcast!