Reliability: Modeling, Prediction, and Optimization

PREFACE

In the real world, all products and systems are unreliable in the sense that they degrade with age and/or usage and ultimately fail. This has important consequences for both the producer and user of such products. For both, the end result of unreliability is increased cost—increased support cost and potential loss of sales for the producer; increased cost of ownership for the buyer.

The reliability of a product depends on a complex interaction of the laws of physics, engineering design, manufacturing processes, management decisions, random events, and usage. Increasing the reliability of a product is often a complex process, involving one or more of a number of activities, including redesign, upgrading of materials and process improvements, as well as additional elements such as handling, storage, and shipping.

Reliability theory is concerned with the study of the various aspects of product reliability. These range from improving product reliability at the design stage, to effective control (through testing) during the manufacturing stage, to proper usage and effective maintenance at the operational stage. Reliability studies involve concepts and techniques from many disciplines, including engineering, mathematics, material science, statistics, and operations research. The knowledge in each discipline is ever increasing. In addition, many new products are being developed and sold and many existing products are becoming more complex, involving new technologies and materials. ...