Reliability predictions are used in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, medical device, defense, and manufacturing, to evaluate and improve product and system reliability. There are several reasons why reliability prediction analyses are important. A few of the most common are mentioned below:
- Reputation. A company's reputation is very closely related to the reliability of their products.
The more reliable a product is, the more likely the company is to have a favorable reputation.
- Warranty Costs. If a product fails to perform its function within the warranty period, the
replacement and repair costs will negatively affect profits, as well as gain unwanted negative attention.
Introducing RAM analyses could be an important step in taking corrective action, ultimately leading to a
product that is more reliable.
- Future Business. A concentrated effort towards improved reliability shows existing customers that a
manufacturer is serious about their product, and committed to customer satisfaction. This type of attitude has
a positive impact on future business.
- Cost Analysis. Manufacturers may take reliability data and combine it with other cost information
to illustrate the cost-effectiveness of their products. This life cycle cost analysis can prove that although
the initial cost of their product might be higher, the overall lifetime cost is lower than a competitor's
because their product requires fewer repairs or less maintenance.
What is a Reliability Prediction?
The textbook definition for reliability is the probability that an item will perform a required function without failure under stated conditions for a stated period of time. In a reliability prediction analysis, the components of a product or system are studied in an effort to predict the rate at which the product or system will fail. Reliability prediction calculations can help to identify the product’s field reliability, failure rate, and MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure), and pinpoint areas for potential reliability improvement.
Reliability Prediction Models
Reliability prediction models offer standard equations that allow you to calculate the failure rate of components based on component data and parameters. There are several different reliability prediction models available, but they share a common goal. You should select the model that is best suited to the part types and requirements of your product or system. Some of the models are listed below:
- MIL-HDBK-217
- Telcordia SR-332
- PRISM
- Mechanical
- RDF 2000 (France)
- HRD5 (UK)
- 299B (China)
Reliability Prediction and Reliability Software
Relex Software Corporation produces software that enables users to evaluate the failure rate and MTBF of their product or system, and pinpoint areas for potential reliability improvement. Relex Software is a leader in reliability and maintainability software analysis tools. We specialize in software, training courses, and seminars covering all aspects of reliability engineering. Our products are used by thousands of engineers worldwide in a variety of businesses.
For More Information
Please visit the Relex Software Corporation Web Site for more online information about the Relex Reliability Software Suite, and about reliability prediction in general.
If you are a Relex user, thank you for your support. If you are evaluating our software for future use, we invite you to request more information about Relex Software, or download the FREE demo version of the Relex Reliability Software Suite.
Contact Us
Phone: 724.836.8800
Fax: 724.836.8844
E-Mail: info@relexsoftware.com
Web: www.relexsoftware.com
