Let’s say you run across a lightweight, inexpensive, easy-to-manufacture metal that you are considering for a new bike frame. Beyond the functional considerations of strength, size, and finish options what else do you consider?
Is it durable? If it fails, how does it fail (e.g., a shattering of a bicycle frame would not be good). You may also consider how the bicycle will be used and stored. What stress will the frame experience over its lifetime? Continue reading
A project-specific reliability plan is a guide or roadmap for intended action. It is also a collection of specific tasks and milestones, enhanced with rationale to allow the entire team to fully understand its role in accomplishing the reliability objectives.
The plan is a way to achieve the desired business objectives. This means that the product must be reliable enough to meet customer expectations, minimize warranty expenses, and garner market acceptance. The plan is just a plan. It is the accomplishment of the tasks, the decision that improve the design, the signals monitored that stabilize the supply chain and assembly process that all make the difference. Continue reading
Do you have derating & safety margin manual in your organization? Is it used regularly? If not, your organization’s products are likely not as reliable as they should be. You are shipping products that are not as robust nor as reliable as your customers deserve.
Derating and safety factors provide a means to select components or create design features that have sufficient margin to accommodate variation in use and strength over time. So why are these tools routinely ignored or given only fleeting attention? Continue reading
One way to capture and disseminate reliability engineering related information and advice is through internal documents. This of course only works if they are both useful and used.
The focus should be on gathering and providing essential and meaningful information that will improve the reliability of your product. Another element that makes these design guidelines valuable is if they save time. Engineers love to save time. Continue reading
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are measurable values related to essential business objectives. A KPI provides a means to monitor the performance of a specific function.
In larger organizations, with sales & marketing, research & development, operations, supply chain, and other teams working to bring products to market, each department has a specific role. For example, the sales team engages with potential customers to assist with the customer’s purchase decision. The organization and the sales team may want to focus on sales growth or average profit margin as KPIs. Continue reading