Speaking Of Reliability: Friends Discussing Reliability Engineering Topics | Warranty | Plant Maintenance SOR 1066 Sample Size Considerations
May 2, 2025
Join Dianna and Fred as they navigate the intricate world of sample size considerations in reliability testing. They tackle the tricky trade-offs between desired reliability and the enormous sample sizes often needed. Practical advice shines through when discussing tools like FMEA and how to deal with real-world constraints. The conversation also highlights challenges in areas like medical devices and solar panel installations, stressing the importance of innovative testing methods and balancing statistical with practical significance.
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Balancing Statistical and Practical Significance
- Achieving extremely high reliability and confidence often demands impractically large sample sizes. - Balancing statistical and practical significance lets you set "good enough" criteria for testing instead of unrealistic perfection.
Use FMEA to Guide Sample Size
- Use FMEA to identify critical failures and justify confidence levels in tests. - This method focuses resources on what matters most for customers and allows relaxing confidence when risks are lower.
Proving Reliability with Field Data
- Fred faced pressure to prove extremely high reliability with infeasible testing for a 15-year-old device. - He used 15 years of flawless field data to argue that expensive testing was unnecessary and impractical.