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Fred Schenkelberg — Thought Leader

Author of CRE Preparation Notes, Musings", NoMTBF, multiple books & ebooks>, co-host on Speaking of Reliability>/a>, and speaker in the Accendo Reliability Webinar Series.


This author's archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.

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Getting Started in Reliability Engineering

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…]

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Are Prototypes Useful for Reliability Estimates

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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Exam Taking Insights and a Request

Exam Taking Insights and a Request

Recently one of the CRE Preparation course students sat for the ASQ CRE exam at one of the Prometrics testing centers.

She passed – which is great, and she knew this as she received grading immediately after finishing the exam.

That is a new and nice feature. What we do not know if what happens if you do not pass.

Do you get feedback in a meaningful manner?

Here are a few other notes on the exam experience Raye reported. [Read more…]

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The Role of Legends in Your Reliability Program

The Role of Legends in Your Reliability Program

One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new company, it at lunch or during a break, ask:

“Any major disasters that impacted reliability?”

Typically, there are three stories that start with, “Remember the… “, or, “One time…”

It seems every organization has legendary stories in the organizational memory. [Read more…]

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When is DOE Useful?

When is DOE Useful?

On page 6 of Statistics for Experimenters, Box, and Hunter suggest a scientist could conduct an investigation without statistics.

Whereas, a statistician could not do so without scientific knowledge.

The text’s discussion quickly expands on the benefits to a scientist when they do employ statistical thinking and tools.

Design of Experiments, DOE, is a set of statistical tools that allow an investigator to efficiently examine multiple factors and their associated influence on results.

DOE allows us to be better investigators. [Read more…]

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Plotting Repairable System Failure Data

Plotting Repairable System Failure Data

A good plot reveals the data’s story.

Repairable system data is what is called by statisticians a renewal process.

The repair activity may restore the system to as good as new. Sometimes, the repair pretty much leaves the system in a state similar to just before the repair.

What happens most often, though, is the chance of system failure changes after each repair activity.

A simple plot can help us see what is happening. [Read more…]

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Warranty Management Overview

Warranty Management Overview

Warranty is a part of doing business. Warranty management is not just the terms listed on the box.

Understanding the entire warranty process, along with your options, permits you to manage your warranty, rather than the other way around.

This is a short overview.

Pieces of a warranty program occur well before the first product ships and may affect the company bottom line for years after you ship your last product.

Brand promise, marketing, finance, customer service are not common areas for a reliability engineer.

Yet, the impact of product failures tends to dominant warranty expenses.

Therefore understanding the many elements around warranty management is essential for any reliability engineer. [Read more…]

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Warranty Prediction

Warranty Prediction

The offered warranty is an internal part of many purchase decisions, plus many business models.

While obligatory to offer a warranty, especially for consumer products, the specific terms, duration, and eventual total cost of honoring warranty claims may vary dramatically.

One key to managing the overall warranty expense is to estimate the potential future warranty claims, followed by accurately tracking actual expenses during the warranty period. [Read more…]