Good Reliability Requirements Abstract Carl and Fred discuss the essence of well-written reliability requirements. They are much more than reliability numbers. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how to ensure reliability requirements are proper and adequate. This builds from the definition of reliability. Topics include: What are the four key elements of […]
Common FMEA Confusions Abstract Carl and Fred discuss common FMEA confusions that come up from time to time. These are condensed from questions that Carl gets from “Inside FMEA” readers. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss common FMEA misunderstandings, and how to simplify the concepts. Topics include: Is it a Failure Mode, […]
Learning What You Don’t Know Abstract Greg and Fred discuss keeping up professionally, which is a requirement these days to continue to be marketable. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss three types of reliability engineers: 1. Those to whom something happens; 2. Those who wonder what or why something happened; and 3. […]
Good is Often Good Enough Abstract Greg and Fred discuss form vs. function decision making. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss various elements of form vs. function decision making. Greg and Fred are engineers, who lean towards function, which is often good is good enough. Others may lean towards form. Topics include: […]
We are often told that a customer needs us to use MIL-HDBK 217F to model our reliability. Do you even know what this is? Or what it means for your reliability number? If you don't ... listen to this podcast!
Inspiring New STEM Students Abstract Greg and Dianna discussing how to get involved in inspiring new STEM students. Key Points Join Greg and Dianna as they discuss inspiring new STEM students. How do we get new people interested in STEM? Topics include: Mentoring, being an example, getting them engaged The allure of the engineering decision-making […]
ERM and Reliability Engineers Abstract Dianna and Greg discussing ERM and Reliability Engineers, along with the AI revolution and the current state of quality. Key Points Join Dianna and Greg as they discuss how ERM (enterprise risk management) and reliability engineers relate. Topics include: The history of ERM and its current state. Quality decision-making needs […]
Creating a Culture of Innovation with Quality and Reliability Abstract Dianna and Carl discussing creating a culture of innovation with Quality and Reliability. Key Points Join Dianna and Carl as they discuss creating a culture of innovation with Quality and Reliability. Topics include: The innovation continuum, from company culture to individual interactions How to foster […]
Quality and Reliability Management: Independence vs. Integration Abstract Carl and Dianna sharing experiences with different forms of managing quality and reliability activities. The importance of independence was compared to the importance of integrating with the design activities. What works, what doesn’t work, and why? Key Points Join Carl and Dianna as they discuss different ways […]
Product Reliability in Complex Supply Chains Abstract Dianna and Chris discussing product reliability in complex supply chains. Key Points Join Dianna and Chris as they discuss product reliability in complex supply chains. Topics include: manufacturers using components used outside of their original purpose relationships between manufacturers and suppliers supplier management cell phones, space products, electric […]
If you aren't thinking about things like carbon footprints and sustainability, you are not going to be around for much longer. Can reliability engineering help in this regard? Reliability engineering can be used for all sorts of characteristics like usability, modularity, adaptability, and so on. What about sustainability
Reliability engineering training is a very important part of organizational reliability maturity. But there is a lot of good training, bad training, and lots of stuff in between. Are we going in the right direction? What do you think?
Where are FMEAs (and their standards) Heading? Abstract Carl and Chris discussing the future of FMEA, sharing their vision for where this method is headed. Key Points Where are FMEAs (and their standards) Heading? Abstract Carl and Chris discussing the future of FMEA, sharing their vision for where FMEA as a method is headed, as […]
Last Minutism Abstract Greg and Fred discussing why do folks wait to the last minute to get important things done. We go beyond procrastination to understand the basics of last minutism. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss practical tips and tools to avoid last minutism. Topics include: What is last minutism behavior? […]
Hero Syndrome Abstract Greg and Fred discuss why heros who fly in to fix a failing project or product recall get all the attention, praise and promotions. But, the folks who maintain the systems day in and day out are often neglected, forgotten, or even dismissed. Key Points Join Greg and Fred as they discuss […]
There are lots of different reliability engineering consultants. So it must be easy to become one ... right? Before you take the plunge, do you even know if this is the right direction for you?
Regulations are an important part of a safe and reliable world. But regulations have also failed to save lives, keep things reliable and make the world safe. Sometimes they are essential. Sometimes they get in the way of innovation. Sometimes they give us the false sense of reliability and safety if they are followed (perhaps because they are out of date, or the technology has changed). So what role do regulations have in the world of reliability and safey?
Changing Customer Expectations Abstract Kirk and Fred discussing a recent product failure that Kirk had with the manufacturer of his e-bike, and the positive outcome. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss Kirk’s e-bike user caused failure and how the company had a major spare part that they no longer manufacturing. Topics include: […]
Making Assumptions Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the use of assumptions in the reliability models, testing, and predictions Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss how assumptions are used in reliability engineering and how they can be misleading or very limited in making reliability assessments. Topics include: Assumptions must be made about potential […]
Ever heard of the 'naked mole rat?' Probably not. It is perhaps the only mammal that never ages. Never gets old. So why do many reliability engineers and textbooks assume that most of our products and machines behave like 'naked mole rats?'
Reliability allocation involves taking 'high-level' requirements and interpreting them into requirements for components and subsystems that allow smaller teams to work independently towards a common goal. Do this right ... and you save lots of time and money. Do this wrong ... and you get the opposite.
How to Start First Job Abstract Carl and Fred sharing suggestions for new reliability engineers on what to do when starting your first job. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss their own experiences and lessons learned on how best to begin work as a new reliability engineer. Topics include: What to do […]
Operator Error? Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a question from an Inside FMEA reader on the subject of Process FMEA. It brings up a general topic of root cause, and whether assigning the cause to various forms of operator error is useful. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss how to determine the […]
Is it possible to change 'any' organization? This is a question many reliability engineers stumble across when they feel frustrated that they are not making meaningful change. There are lots of instances of organizations that have changed. But there are lots of organizations that haven't changed ... at least for a long time. Is it possible for these organizations to change?
Bathtub Curve Flaws Abstract Carl and Fred discussing a reader question having to do with the use of the reliability bathtub curve, including the efficacy of the curve itself. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss what is right or wrong with the reliability bathtub curve. Topics include: Is the “bathtub curve” more […]
Biggest Reliability Mistakes Abstract Carl and Fred discussing some of the biggest reliability mistakes they have seen in their careers, and the lessons learned from those mistakes. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they discuss various mistakes that companies make, why they are made, and how they can be avoided. Topics include: Mistake 1: […]
How much is a reliability engineer worth? This is a very difficult question to answer ... especially by reliability engineers! We are often very guilty of simply saying we are really valuable without explaining why, what that means, providing examples, or putting dollar figures on it. So how valuable is a reliability engineer?
So Many Tools Abstract Dianna and Fred discussing how there are so many tools that are available for quality and reliability applications, and approaches to take when figuring out what to use. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss that there are so many tools in the quality and reliability engineering toolbox that […]
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is a vehicle that 'passed' a reliability demonstration test that appeared to suggest it was three times more reliable than the requirement. But yet, when the vehicles were provided to the soldiers, sailors and airmen ... they were unreliable. Sound familiar?
What does a reliability engineer do? This should be an easy question to answer. But it is not often answered well. 'Measuring reliability' is not reliability engineering. So what is it?
