 |
|
In this issue: |
Issue 6, August 2001 |
|
|
Reliability HotWire is a service
of ReliaSoft Corporation
To subscribe or update your e-mail preferences, go to
http://weibull.com/hotwire/index.htm
To remove yourself from this e-mail list: Send an e-mail with the word
"REMOVE" in the subject line to
HotWire@ReliaSoft.com
|
|
Hot Topics |
|
Reliability Allocation and Optimization
During the process of developing a new product, the engineer is often faced
with the task of designing a system that conforms to a set of reliability
specifications. The engineer is given the goal for the system and must
then develop a design that will achieve the desired reliability of the
system while performing all of the system's intended functions at a
minimum cost. This involves a "balancing act" of determining how to
allocate reliability to the components in the system so the system will
meet its reliability goal while at the same time insuring that the system
meets all of the other associated performance specifications.
In this article, we will look at how a cost function can be defined
that will allow for the optimization of reliability within a system
design.
To read more, see
http://weibull.com/hotwire/issue6/hottopics6.htm
 |
|
Reliability Basics |
|
|
The purpose of this section is to offer background and advice to the novice
reliability engineer.
Sources of Reliability and Life Data
Part 2 - Field Data
While reliability testing is vital to the implementation of a
reliability program, it is not the sole source of product reliability
performance data. Indeed, the data received from the field is the "true"
measure of product performance, and is directly linked to the financial
aspects of a product. In fact, a great deal of field data may be more
finance-related than reliability-related. However, given the importance of
the link between reliability and income, it is important to insure that
adequate reliability information can be gleaned from field performance
data. In many cases, it is not too difficult to adapt current field data
collection programs to include information that is directly applicable to
reliability reporting.
To read more, see
http://weibull.com/hotwire/issue6/relbasics6.htm
|
|
Tool Tips |
|
|
The Tool Tips
section addresses helpful hints and frequently asked questions about
ReliaSoft software products.
To read more, see
http://weibull.com/hotwire/issue6/tooltips.htm
|
|
Hot News |
|
 Announcing
the Release of ALTA 6 and ALTA 6 PRO
- After years in development and with great anticipation from the
quantitative accelerated life testing community, ALTA 6 PRO is now
available. For the first time ever, a software tool for accelerated
life data analyses with time-varying stresses is now available. This
product testing strategy, if applied correctly, will significantly
reduce time-to-market, development costs and warranty expenses.
For more information, see
http://ALTA.ReliaSoft.com.
|
|
Upcoming
Seminar in Tucson, October 15 -19
- An upcoming ReliaSoft "Master the Subject, Master the Tools"
seminar will be held in Tucson, Arizona from October 15 - 19, 2001.
Topics for this five-day seminar include life data analysis,
accelerated life testing, and system reliability, maintainability
and availability. For more information on course content and how
to register, see http://Seminars.ReliaSoft.com/101501.htm.
|
|
Weibull++
MT: Reliability analysis package specifically for manufacturing and
process engineers
- ReliaSoft has been working closely with the American Institute of
Quality, Ford Motor Company and representatives of the machine tool
supplier community to develop an industry-specific version of
Weibull++. In July, ReliaSoft released Weibull++ MT, a life data
analysis package specifically geared for those involved in plant
maintenance or process reliability. In addition to all of the great
functionality found in Weibull++, Weibull++ MT has special input and
tracking methods for data specific to those interested in the
reliability of manufacturing and production processes. For more
information, see
http://Weibull.ReliaSoft.com/mt. |
| |
Advanced
accelerated testing analysis training available with "QALT Boot Camp"
- ReliaSoft will begin offering an intensive three-day course on
advanced topics, concepts and applications of quantitative accelerated
life testing (QALT) with its "QALT Boot Camp." This seminar covers
advanced topics in accelerated test data analysis such as time-varying
stress and multiple stress testing. The next QALT Boot Camp will be
held in Tucson, AZ November 14 -16, 2001. For more information on
course content and how to register, see
http://Seminars.ReliaSoft.com/qalt.htm. |
|
|
From the Edge |
|
|
Every quarter,
ReliaSoft publishes Reliability Edge, a printed journal that
includes articles and information related to the field of reliability
engineering. Articles of interest in the current edition:
- Cumulative Binomial for Test Design and Analysis -
Reliability engineers are often called upon to design demonstration
tests in which few or no failures are anticipated. However, in order
to design a truly effective demonstration test, a certain amount of
knowledge about the characteristics of the product are needed and this
information is not always available. Fortunately, the cumulative
binomial distribution can be used to help reliability engineers design
tests and analyze results without a great deal of prior knowledge
concerning the failure distribution of the product. See
http://www.ReliaSoft.com/newsletter/2q2001/cumulative_binomial.htm.
- General Log-Linear Model for Accelerated Life Data Analysis
- Decreasing development cycle times have increased the popularity
of accelerated life testing for obtaining life data. However, many
models limit the practitioner to the use of one or two stresses. The
general log-linear model (now available in
ALTA 6 PRO) allows a much greater degree of flexibility than many
other models, allowing the user to incorporate multiple and
non-quantitative stress inputs, that will allow for more powerful
analysis of accelerated life data.
See
http://www.ReliaSoft.com/newsletter/2q2001/general_loglinear.htm.
|
|
Put Yourself on the Hot Seat
|
Success Stories
Wanted
Periodically, the Reliability HotWire runs a feature called
"On the Hot Seat," where reliability professionals share their
experiences with ReliaSoft tools and how they have helped solve problems
during their day-to-day job assignments. We are always on the lookout
for more success stories from those reliability professionals willing to
put themselves "on the hot seat." If you are interested, please contact
Crawford Smith by e-mail at
Crawford.Smith@ReliaSoft.com, or by standard mail at 1450 S.
Eastside Loop, Tucson, AZ 85710-6703, USA.
|
 |
Copyright © 2001
ReliaSoft Corporation, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
|
| |
