What Software Are You Using? Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing software tools used by reliability engineers: the good, the bad, and pitfalls. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss software tools used by reliability engineers. Topics include: Different suites of software that they’ve used in the past and what they’re using today. Assumptions […]
Catching Up with Questions Abstract Carl and Fred summarizing and discussing the latest questions received from readers and listeners. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss questions relating to FMEA detection, FMEA scope, and other questions. Topics include: FMEA detection methods and ratings Two types of Detection: detection during product development and detection […]
Bringing Back Old Plant Equipment Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about the use of FMEA when ramping up equipment in a plant. In this case, the equipment had been sitting dormant for a number of years. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss which specific methods would be most useful […]
The Best Reliability Training Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing their views on how to best learn the discipline of reliability engineering. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the ways to learn about reliability and improving Topics include: The best way to learn reliability engineering is to understand why products fail in the […]
Decisions and Safety Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing whether to ship a product that may or may not be safe and reliable. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss recent medical equipment failures and the potential risks and whose responsibility it is. Topics include: Risks of component failures, such as MLCC (Mult-layer Ceramic […]
What is the 'hierarchy' of reliability engineering? What things do you start to learn to become a reliability engineer? Perhaps you need to develop your personal vision or identity ...
The terms 'confidence' and 'intervals' are used in reliability engineering ... a lot! But do you know what they mean? And can they help?
Celebrating Reliability Success Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about when it is OK to celebrate reliability successes. Specifically, how long you have to wait to feel comfortable you have a successful product when nothing bad happens. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the criteria for successful field programs, including […]
Do You Need a Degree in Reliability Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing higher education and the importance of a college degree in reliability for a career in reliability engineering. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss their road to having a career in reliability engineering. Topics include: There are excellent engineers that are […]
Reliability Program vs Reality Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing failures in products after launch and the importance of and knowing how the customers use conditions. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss finding failures in the lab and the some of their experiences with finding design errors during testing. Topics include: Finding a […]
Reliability growth is a term used a lot in the reliability industry. It tends to refer to activities where we build prototypes, test them, and fix all the issues we find. But there is more to it than this.
Systems and reliability engineers often 'work' together. But how? As with many engineering disciplines, there is scope for overlap and conflict. Do you know what one does? ... that the other doesn't?
Reliability and Quality Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing differences and similarities between quality and reliability. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss the differences and similarities between quality and reliability functions in an organization. Topics include: different views organizations have about quality and reliability functions quality and reliability practitioners’ involvement in problem analysis […]
What is Working in Quality Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing the role of Quality and quality professionals in an organization. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss Quality in organizations. Topics include: organizational structure of Quality the Hollywood stereotypes of the quality profession compared to the real world Quality’s role as an independent […]
Building Rapport and Influence Abstract Carl and Fred discussing how to build rapport with colleagues, as one of the steps in shaping and influencing product designs and manufacturing processes. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss techniques in building rapport with people. Many of the tools of reliability engineering require the ability to […]
Maintenance v Product Reliability Engineering Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about the crossover knowledge between asset reliability and product reliability. What are the similarities? What are the differences? What about a potential career change between one and the other? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the body of knowledge […]
Cpk is what we call a 'capability index' and it is a measure of manufacturing process quality. And by that we mean the number of defects we create, and how close we are to specifications. Reliability engineers and designers often don't see a role for them when it comes to manufacturing and Cpk. Is this right?
We are often told that 'quality' and 'reliability' is different. Do customers care if their product fails due to a 'quality' cause or a 'reliability' issue? Truth is that you cannot talk about the one without talking about the other.
Modern Phone Qualification Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing the information needed to determine how to qualify product reliability. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss a listener’s question: Do you have materials that describe different reliability tests done to qualify modern smartphones? Topics include: There is no reliability tests checklist for a product. […]
Value of Certification Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a listener question about the value of certification in reliability engineering. Does it help one’s career advancement? Will it enhance one’s salary? What are the pros and cons? Does certification improve one’s prospects internationally? Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss the subject of training […]
Can Organizations Change Abstract Greg and Fred discuss the increasing requirement for organizations to change. Key Points Greg Hutchins is the new podcast co-conspirator with Fred Schenkelberg. In our first joint podcast, join Fred and Greg as they talk about ‘Can Organizations Change’ in today’s uncertain times. Listen up as they discuss: Today’s new normal […]
Change Management with Humans Abstract Greg and Fred discuss the range of elements involved with change management. Key Points Join Fred and Greg in this first joint podcast on ‘Change Management with Humans.’ Fred is the quality and reliability guru. Greg is a risk journeyman. In these podcasts, we’re going to discuss the intersections and […]
Some organizations make really reliable stuff, but don't have a reliability goal. How can this be? We keep getting told that reliability goals are really important. They most certainly are. Are you confused?
We often ask ourselves (or others) some really questions that are easy to ask, but hard to answer. And most of the time this comes down to us not understanding the decision our question is supposed to support. What is your required confidence? What are the possible outcomes of your decision? How are you testing your samples?
The Future of Reliability Abstract Carl and Fred discussing the future of the field of reliability engineering, including where we have been and where we are going. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how the field of reliability is changing and how this affects each of us. Topics include: The vital-few reliability […]
Unusual Reliability Applications Abstract Carl and Fred discussing unusual and interesting reliability projects that cross disciplines. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss some of their more captivating and unique applications of reliability principles and methods. Topics include: Control systems in the field of evolutionary medicine. Examines the body of knowledge associated with […]
When a Proposal Fails Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the challenge of getting a proposal for new testing (i.e HALT) accepted. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the many aspects of bringing a new approach to reliability development testing. Topics include: The many factors that are important to introducing a new test […]
When to Stop Troubleshooting Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing the challenge of when to end efforts in troubleshooting a failure. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss issues surrounding the efforts made to understand the root cause of a failure when they have had trouble recording this podcast. Topics include: In some cases […]
Things will go wrong. Or be unexpected. We can sometimes rush to solve the problem. But it is usually better to take a little bit of extra time to work out what is going on. So how do we do this? Listen to this podcast!
The 'common slope assumption' shouldn't be an assumption. It is a rule that should be checked. If you are doing what we call 'accelerated life testing' or ALT, then you are exposing your system to different stresses in order to speed up time to failure to (for example) replicate 10 years worth of use with two weeks of testing. But if the 'slope' changes, then something bad is happening. Need to learn more? Listen to this podcast!
