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O-Ring Design, Operation and Use

O-Ring Design, Operation and Use

Properly designed o-ring grooves and properly installed o-rings stop the passage of pressurised liquids or gasses. Flexibility while being deformed under pressure is their greatest sealing advantage.  O-Ring Design and Materials O-rings are made of elastomeric materials such as rubbers and plastics. They deform under pressure and then return back to their original shape once the pressure is removed. They also accept the movement of mirror-finish shafts while deformed by pressure. Usually they are shaped like a rubber elastic band of round cross section, but they can have rectangular, trapezoid and even ‘+’ shapes depending on the application. The material, internal diameter (ID) and cross section diameter specify o-rings of round cross section.  [Read more…]

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Ideation and Product Development

Ideation and Product Development

In recent articles I focused on a ‘linear’ approach to product development by understanding customer needs, establishing requirements (“what the design provides”), establishing a conceptual design, etc.

In this article, I’ll discuss a framework whereby an idea for a product or design might kick-off the process.

Also, rather than a commercialized product, we will assume our goal is to successfully demonstrate the idea’s feasibility.  (This is common for a start-up company, where the business model might be to demonstrate product success with a goal of obtaining more venture capital, or to sell the intellectual property.  Alternatively, a large company might want a separate idea development process that takes invention off the critical path.)

[Read more…]

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The 4 Parameter Beta Distribution 7 Formulas

The 4 Parameter Beta Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Beta distribution is a univariate continuous distribution. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Beta Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

The Beta function is not used to describe life data very often yet is used to describe model parameters that are contained within an interval. For example given a probability parameter constrained from 0 ≤ p ≤ 1 the use of the Beta distribution is well suited to model such a parameter.

The Beta distribution is also known as a Pearson Type I distribution. [Read more…]

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Can modular subsystems improve reliability?

Can modular subsystems improve reliability?

Modular subsystems in a wheelhouse technology may or may not be a staple in your industry.  There are some industries where they are not a standard practice and there are industries where without them, you can’t be a competitor.  Of course there is everything in-between.

First let’s define what a modular subsystem is for this discussion.  A modular subsystem is an assembly that is designed to be integratable into multiple products.  For the automotive industry this could be a transmission.  Each car model a manufacturer makes does not have a unique transmission design.  There may be six transmission types that cover 20 car models.

[Read more…]

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Achieving Innovation

Achieving Innovation

We want to be more innovative – but how?

Many companies talk about their desire for Innovation. Can Design of Experiments (DOE) help in that process? Each section below contains a 2-minute video to expand on the topic provided.

Too often, we manage on hope

How often do we hear a design or process development team express optimism – “We are almost there!” And how long does that same response continue without progress? The key is to decide when we have tried long enough using informal methods. Predictability and confidence are important to achieve project success.

[Read more…]

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Should I Train a Good Facilitator or a Great One?

Should I Train a Good Facilitator or a Great One?

One of our customers who is thinking about setting up a RCM Blitz™ Facilitator training class recently asked me if I had a list of traits that all good RCM facilitators seem to have?  He also wanted to know the background experience a good facilitator would have and what are some the qualities we should look for in selecting these people?

As I was about to tell him I could e-mail a document I had created on how to select a good RCM Facilitator, an interesting thought came to mind.

Are you really looking for someone to become a good facilitator or would you really like them a great facilitator? [Read more…]

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Real World Volatility: Implications for Scenario Generation

Real World Volatility: Implications for Scenario Generation

Guest Post by Geary Sikich (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

Introduction

In the risk-neutral world, all business and government continuity planning would be risk-balanced. However, in reality, risks, threats, hazards and their consequences change depending on an organizations exposure, sensitivities to impact and other factors.  For instance, a natural disaster, can occur without much warning and can have direct and indirect impact on an organization.  Complicating the Business Continuity Planners life is a simple fact, events have unforeseen consequences that can rarely be planned for.

[Read more…]

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Why Parents Make the Best Reliability Engineers

Why Parents Make the Best Reliability Engineers

I am a parent of two young children. As a result of my experiences as a mom, I feel that parents make great Reliability Engineers because there are so many shared skill sets. Please enjoy this lighthearted comparison to start your week out with a little humor.

First, I have to point out the development of a brand new Reliability Engineer requires the same skills of lubrication and vibration that the conception of a child requires. [Read more…]

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What is Validation?

What is Validation?

Significant savings in product development costs can be realized with robust validation processes, starting with requirements validation.  Validation confirms the product meets customer needs for the products intended use, and answers the question “are we designing the right product?” The “right product” therefore starts with the “right” product requirements.  Even a product designed with detailed requirements, but incorrect specification limits, can be considered the “wrong product” (since the product would be rejected by the customer.) [Read more…]

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The 2 Parameter Logistic Distribution 7 Formulas

The 2 Parameter Logistic Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Logistic distribution is univariate continuous distribution. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Logistic Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

It has the essential formulas that you may find useful when answering specific questions. Knowing a distribution’s set of parameters does provide, along with the right formulas, a quick means to answer a wide range of reliability related questions. [Read more…]

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RAMS 2018: Reliability Goals in the Product Development Process

RAMS 2018: Reliability Goals in the Product Development Process

I just came back from one of the best RAMS conferences I have attended (In my over 10 years of attending).  I was fortunate enough to present a paper on “Balancing Reliability Goals in the Product Development Process”.  The questions I received were great!  The higher level management of how reliability integrates into product programs is the next big advancement for our discipline.

-Adam

https://youtu.be/YPJBxwIJAi4