The Survey Results Are In
Here the 2016 survey results as reported by the TypeForm survey tool. [Read more…]
Survey Results for 2016 CRE Preparation Recommended References
Confidence Interval Interpretations and Misunderstandings
Confidence intervals (CIs)provide a means to judge point estimates based on a sample from the population.
If that statement excites you, you may well have the makings of a fine statistician.
CIs are a form of internal estimate and specify a range within which a parameter may reside. CIs helps us evaluate the trustworthiness of point estimates. [Read more…]
Tolerance Specifications Impact on Reliability
Mechanical drawings and electrical schematics communicate the design.
They provide information sufficient to create a product or build a system.
They provide the necessary details that allow others to construct something that originally was only imaged.
We no longer rely on a single craftsman to build a chest of drawers from concept to delivery.
Instead, they may be a team scattered across many organizations relying on the drawings.
Included on the drawings and schematics are dimensions along with tolerances. A keypad will be a specific width, plus/minus some amount. A resistor is nominally 100 ohms, yet anything between 90 and 110 ohms is fine.
Tolerances acknowledge the variability between individual components or caused during the construction process.
Tolerances also impact the reliability performance of your products. [Read more…]
Introduction to Derating
Derating is the selection of components and materials according to a set of standardized safety-margin definitions.
It is used by design engineers to ensure the selected elements of the design do not experience performance problems due to overstress conditions.
Derating, like stress-strength analysis, assists the designer when selecting elements for the product or system.
The outcome is a robust design able to withstand the expected, and some of the unexpected, stress applied. [Read more…]
Inputs to Consider When Setting Tolerances
Technical drawings and electrical specifications often include tolerances.
The range of values allowed for a particular aspect of the part.
Reliability engineers do not set the tolerances, yet we should both understand and influence them.
A critical element of design for reliability is the creation of a robust product.
It is not just robust in the end use, your product should also be robust to the variability that will occur during manufacturing and transportation. [Read more…]
The Basics of Vibration and Shock
Did you shake a wrapped gift as a child?
Sometimes the rattling sound may indicate the hidden contents. A sweater from Grandma would make a muffled sound, while a new Lego set would rustle the many parts.
Your customers may not shake the package to guess its contents, yet your product will experience vibration and shock.
The environments of assembly, transpiration, use, maintenance, etc all include shock and vibration inputs to your product. The operation of your product may include producing vibration and shock loading across the product.
Understanding the basics of vibration and shock will assist you to design your product to operate as expected in the noisy, shaky world.
The rattling about your product experiences is just one of the many environmental and use factors. [Read more…]
Starting a Career in Reliability Engineering
Reliability engineers all have a start.
A point zero.
The transition point from pursuing something else, or nothing at all, then we begin our journey as a reliability engineering professional.
Getting started can be difficult and at times overwhelming.
Then you find Accendo Reliability and there is a lot of great content, maybe too much. So, this short article has the intent to create a starting point for you.
Plus, for those well along in their career, a request.
What is your advice to those just starting their career? My plan is to gather the advice from this community and assembly a start here guide just for those just starting their career.
Leave a comment below with your words of wisdom. [Read more…]
Introduction to Thermal Cycling Life Testing
Materials expand or contract with temperature change. Water expands as it freezes, whereas steel contracts as it cools.
This motion can limit the life of your system.
Materials and mechanical engineers include the expected motion into their designs, well the better engineers do.
Even centuries ago, craftsmen used expansion slots or features when attaching wooden table tops to their frames.
The motion due to temperature change will occur and has the potential to create immense strain within your product. [Read more…]
5 Ways You Know a Reliability Program is Working
When your reliability program is working well, it may be difficult to recognize the benefits incurred.
Likewise, when the program is not working, it is obvious.
As you work to improve your program, keep in mind you may need to include elements to ensure your efforts remain visible.
I don’t mean staging field issues that you can solve quickly, rather that you are able to show the impact you and your program make to the organization. [Read more…]
Introduction to High-Temperature Life Testing
A common reliability test involves ‘baking’ a few units.
Various standards list temperature, duration, and sample size requirements.
When the units survive the test, meaning there are no failures, what does that mean?
How do you interpret a system or component life test using high temperature?
Do the results suggest your product is reliable? Maybe it is maybe it isn’t.
Let’s examine one way to design and interpret high-temperature testing. [Read more…]
Reliability Questions to Ask Your Suppliers
Here’s a question for you: Do you ask your suppliers the right questions concerning reliability?
Probably not.
If you are getting the right information from your suppliers, then you would enjoy few supplier related field issues, or as little downtime or low warranty costs.
Asking the right set of questions will help you gain the understanding you need to improve your reliability performance. [Read more…]
Overview of Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the systematic process of observation and analysis.
The evaluation of a project, method or process best practices as performed by recognized industry leader may reveal improvement opportunities for your organization.
Benchmarking may focus on diverse business processes and with both internal and external subjects.
The intent is to understand what makes the subject’s process work well.
Understanding a system that operates well may reveal the elements in your process that may benefit with a change.
Keep in mind that not all best practice processes may apply to your specific situation. (Lapide, 2005) [Read more…]
Rewards and Incentives Have an Impact On Reliability
A maxim of business management is to measure what is important.
The focus on aligning metrics, rewards, and incentives is not a new concept. Many businesses create target focused incentives with the expectation it will assist achieving those important business goals.
In many cases, simply monitoring a metric improve the team’s ability to achieve a specific goal.
In some cases, though, achieving the goal and associated incentive has an associated negative impact on the business.
If you offer a bonus for a short-term behavior or goal and offer nothing to balance with the long-term impact.
Your incentive may actually damage your business in the long term. [Read more…]
Getting Started in Reliability Engineering
Initially, the CRE Prep blog aimed at providing refresher material for those preparing for the ASQ CRE exam.
In discussions with readers, it has become clear to me that many new to reliability engineering have found the series of articles useful.
That is should not be surprising since many of the tutorials are introductory and practical.
The problem those new to the field have is related with where to start.
There is a lot of information related to reliability engineering.
From defining reliability to working with teams to Weibull analysis, there is a lot to know. [Read more…]
Are Prototypes Useful for Reliability Estimates
Prototypes are precious items. A vendor sample or beta version of factory parts may provide necessary insights.
They are not real though.
The prototypes and samples we hold, admire, examine and test are just a representation of the final product or system.
It is extremely rare we will learn exactly what we need to know with these few items. [Read more…]
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