Speaking Of Reliability: Friends Discussing Reliability Engineering Topics | Warranty | Plant Maintenance

In this engaging discussion, Enrico Belmonte, a reliability engineer, delves into the crucial question of product lifespan. He highlights the balance between consumer satisfaction and cost implications while exploring how different usage patterns impact design decisions. Enrico also emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer behavior to enhance product reliability and safety, particularly for high-stakes applications. The episode thoughtfully examines how marketing and engineering can collaborate to redefine reliability targets in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Getting it Right Abstract Philip and Fred discuss the value of precision maintenance. Key Points Join Philip and Fred as they discuss the need to purchase, install, and maintain equipment with precision. Topics include: A mindset to get it right and enjoy the benefits Alignment as an example Rotating equipment benefits significantly with ‘getting it right’ attention to detail. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes   The post SOR 1040 Getting it Right appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Competing Risk or Not Abstract Philip and Fred discuss the considerations when the dataset does not have competing risks. Key Points Join Philip and Fred as they discuss the difference in data analysis and results when the dataset does or does not have competing risks of failure. Topics include: What are competing risks? The extreme value family of distributions. Does your software just assume competing risks? Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes   The post SOR 1039 Competing Risk or Not appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Carl and Fred dive into the fascinating intersection of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and artificial intelligence. They discuss the pros and cons of automating FMEA compared to collaborative approaches. Historical data usage shines, especially with component failures like capacitors. The conversation highlights the importance of human insight in the FMEA process to avoid blind spots and foster creativity. They caution against superficial automation and emphasize that true reliability requires active team engagement and thoughtful analysis.

NUDD Abstract Carl and Fred discuss an interesting question from an Accendo listener. The question has to do with what is called NUDD: New, Unique, Difficult, Different. Specifically the listener’s management wanted to know if their NUDD process could replace FMEA. Key Points Join Carl and Fred as they deep dive into NUDD and FMEA. They examine both methods to see how they relate to each other. Topics include: What is NUDD, and how does it work? What is the relationship between NUDD and FMEA? Can NUDD replace FMEA, and if not, why not? NUDD helps to identify higher risk issues, and can track follow up. FMEA is a deeper analysis that gets to root cause, risk analysis to prioritize issues, and recommendations to reduce risk. NUDD and FMEA can work together. NUDD does not replace FMEA. NUDD can be front end to FMEA to help identify focus areas. Don’t forget interfaces; more than half problems occur at interfaces. Discussion about following standards versus analytical thinking Reliability is a way of thinking, not merely a set of topics and methods. FMEA is not a “fill out the form” exercise. Don’t forget field history, as input to selecting projects. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes   The post SOR 1037 NUDD appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Defined Environment Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss that customers may use their products, such as washing machines, in more stressful environments than the design specifies or recommends. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss manufacturers’ specified environmental conditions for use and the fact that most users probably do not know or follow those specifications. Topics include: Some companies can record and transmit use and environmental conditions in real-time, which helps them understand the actual conditions rather than their design specifications. Many designers do not know what environments and usage conditions their customers will actually use it in, so they rely on standards that are generalized averages, not based on the actual wide variations in use conditions. Changes in technology have made many consumer products more robust, such as smartphones with more substantial glass screens, better water resistance, and more excellent reliability when accidentally dropped on the ground or water. Kirk has operated samples of business PCs that survived in thermal cycling and steady-state conditions well above the manufacturers’ specified temperatures for thousands of hours and wrote a paper, “Long Term Thermal Overstressing of Computers,” with Professor Michael Pecht, founder of the CALCE consortium. Here is a link to download this paper through IEEE Explore. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes Please click on this link to access a relatively new analysis of traditional reliability prediction methods article from the US ARMY and CALCE titled  “Reliability Prediction – Continued Reliance on a Misleading Approach”. It is in the public domain, so please distribute freely. Trying to predict reliability for development is a misleading a costly approach. You can now purchase the most recent recording of Kirk Gray’s Hobbs Engineering 8 (two 4 hour sessions) hour Webinar “Rapid and Robust Reliability Development 2022 HALT & HASS Methodologies Online Seminar” from this link. For more information on the newest discovery testing methodology here is a link to the book “Next Generation HALT and HASS: Robust design of Electronics and Systems” written by Kirk Gray and John Paschkewitz. The post SOR 1036 Defined Environment appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Lasting Just Long Enough Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the subject of reliability and how appliance manufacturing companies may design for a limited life in order to sell new models. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the need for companies need to sell the new models of their products and the planned or known wear out after the period of acceptable use. Topics include: Many reasons people buy new appliances and cars is because of the new features, which in clothes washing machines is more efficient water use, and in automobiles it is safety systems and gas mileage. If  a major appliance fails after a 10+ years life of service, where do you go for information on the replacement.  Kirk relies on Consumer Reports because every year it sends a product survey on their years old product asking about it’s reliability. Engineering any product or system is a series of tradeoffs and especially with costs and wear out of mechanical components. Occasionally a company produces an extremely reliable systems that make it difficult to get the customer to replace it, and Kirk has experienced this first hand as a Sales Engineer selling helium mass spectrometers, a.k.a helium leak detectors. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes Please click on this link to access a relatively new analysis of traditional reliability prediction methods article from the US ARMY and CALCE titled  “Reliability Prediction – Continued Reliance on a Misleading Approach”. It is in the public domain, so please distribute freely. Trying to predict reliability for development is a misleading a costly approach. You can now purchase the most recent recording of Kirk Gray’s Hobbs Engineering 8 (two 4 hour sessions) hour Webinar “Rapid and Robust Reliability Development 2022 HALT & HASS Methodologies Online Seminar” from this link. For more information on the newest discovery testing methodology here is a link to the book “Next Generation HALT and HASS: Robust design of Electronics and Systems” written by Kirk Gray and John Paschkewitz. The post SOR 1035 Lasting Just Long Enough appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Make it Less Robust Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss requests to engineers to make it less robust. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss the situation where engineers are asked to make something less robust. Topics include: Planned obsolescence and its impact on product design. Designing products to last a specific time, not too long, not too short. Why some products are designed to break, and how it affects the consumer. The business and marketing reasons behind planned obsolescence. Why some companies are moving towards design for repairability and sustainable materials. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes In this episode, Fred and Dianna discuss why we may make it less robust. This includes the concept of planned obsolescence and how it impacts product design. They explore the idea of why some products are made to fail and the business reasons behind this practice. One story involves a company that designs products with a specific lifespan, aiming for a 10-year warranty, while another story discusses how a contract incentivized a company to make products that would fail. They also consider how the market drives the business and how product reliability can affect sales. The conversation also touches upon the movement towards design for repairability and the use of sustainable materials. The discussion highlights the trade-offs that businesses make between product longevity, cost, and market demand. They conclude by emphasizing that while perfect reliability is an ideal goal, it may not always align with business objectives. The post SOR 1034 Make it Less Robust appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Conference Value Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss conference value: maximizing the benefits of conferences and assessing their value for participation. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss conference value. Topics include: Discover how to make the most of conferences, beyond just attending sessions. Learn the importance of planning ahead, identifying key sessions, and networking opportunities. Understand how to balance session attendance with breaks for informal conversations and avoid burnout. Explore how to follow up after a conference to implement new ideas and create real value. Hear about strategies to connect with others, ask meaningful questions, and avoid the “two-minute meet and greet”. Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes In this episode, Fred and Dianna discuss how to get the most out of conferences, prompted by a listener question about whether attending conferences is “worth it”. To get the most value out of conferences, it’s important to go beyond simply attending sessions and instead actively engage in a variety of activities. Evaluating the value of a conference involves assessing both the potential for learning and the practical application of what is learned. Recommended approach Here's how to approach conferences to maximize their benefit and determine their worth. Plan ahead: Before the conference, identify the specific topics, sessions, and speakers that align with your interests and goals. Look for tutorials or papers on specific subjects you want to learn more about. Networking: Conferences offer opportunities to connect with peers, experts, and potential collaborators. Engage in conversations during breaks, lunches, and dinners to build relationships. Don’t be shy about asking questions to gain new perspectives. Follow up with people you meet after the conference to foster ongoing conversations. Be willing to move on from conversations that are not a good fit. Active Participation: Attend presentations that are relevant to your goals. Don't hesitate to leave a presentation that is not useful and go to one that is more aligned with your interests. Balance Attendance and Breaks: Avoid over-scheduling yourself. Take breaks to recharge and engage in informal conversations. Focus on Implementation: Identify actionable takeaways during sessions. Jot down notes on key learnings that you can implement when you return to work. Implement the ideas and track the difference they make. Conference Value To determine if a conference is valuable, consider if it provides opportunities for: Knowledge Acquisition: Learning new concepts, methodologies, or best practices relevant to your field. Skill Development: Gaining practical skills through tutorials and hands-on sessions. Networking: Connecting with experts, peers, and potential collaborators. Professional Growth: Building your Google resume through presentations and recognition. Implementation: Bringing back ideas that you can implement that lead to measurable improvements and cost savings. Conferences are most valuable when they lead to tangible changes or results that benefit your work. It’s not just about attending, but also about what you do with what you learn. A conference is simply the start of the process to create value, and not a valuable thing in itself. The post SOR 1033 Conference Value appeared first on Accendo Reliability.

Available Reliability Information Abstract Chris and Fred discuss how to deal with trying to find ‘reliability characteristics’ when you don’t have a lot of information. Sound familiar? Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they respond to a question about trying to find the reliability of something for a ‘high-reliability’ product in a systems engineering setting, focusing on electronic componentry through to PC housing. Wow! A lot to cover here. The question is really all about where we go to find information to help us. Topics include: Literature. Especially conference proceedings of very ‘specific’ conferences. There are some gatherings of people that focus on very specific components and failure mechanisms. These can have a lot of information about how your component might fail … as long as you KNOW how your component fails. And then make sure the paper you find relates to your product. Vendor … carefully. Some vendors are actually across how their components fail. Some definitely aren’t. Some pretend or look like they are … but aren’t. But you won’t get what you don’t ask for. Similar products and components … knowing your assumptions. If you have been designing, building and producing lots of similar products in the past (previous models, generations and so on), then you might have a lot of information already gathered. But don’t just blindly copy information. Understand what makes your new product different to those from the past, and see what that means to the failure mechanism (yes … you always need to understand the failure mechanism). But ‘not’ parts count predictions. Jaguar and Toyota vehicles are functionally and technologically identical (or at least very similar). But Jaguar vehicles are much less reliable than Toyota vehicles (it’s not even close). So don’t just search for the ‘first’ number you can find! And if all this fails? … then you need to get your own information through things like Accelerated Life Testing (ALT), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and so on. Physics will tell you if you need to do this. Not the finance team … Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches. Download Audio RSS Show Notes The post SOR 1032 Available Reliability Information appeared first on Accendo Reliability.