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The Good DFMEA The Bad DFMEA and Ugly outcomes

The Good DFMEA The Bad DFMEA and Ugly outcomes

If you finish the Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (DFMEA) before the product is out in the field, you have made a horrible mistake. The worst DFMEA that can occur is one that is completed and filed away mid-program. A high value DFMEA is a live tool that has both inputs and directive outputs throughout the program. A tool that is interwoven into the day to day activity of the program.  The DFMEA drives actions and aids decisions both technically and in project management.  It is updated with design changes that change risk and mitigative strategies.

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Understanding RPN Limitations – Problems and Solutions

Understanding RPN Limitations – Problems and Solutions

In this week’s FMEA problems and solutions article, the intermediate problem challenges readers to prioritize a series of RPNs (with their corresponding S, O, and D). In the advanced problem, readers are asked to weigh in on a fictitious debate between advocates of traditional RPN, and advocates of criticality assessment, using only severity and occurrence.

If you haven’t yet read the article titled “Prioritizing risk for corrective actions in an FMEA – Know before you go!“, you can access it by clicking on the link.

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Reliability Benefits from Product Support

I was reading an article recently about Apple MacBook Pro keyboard issues, affecting the current generation of products, on which this article is being written.  I also have an iPhone sitting next to me playing “music” whilst I wait for a call-center agent to reply on a travel issue.  In both cases, I am dependent on their correct functioning.  My past experience across many products is that my overall experience is also dependent on how product support is delivered in case of hardware failure.

Design and business choices strongly affect in-life support capability.  They affect not only the basic ability to repair a product but also, through the cost and availability of spare parts, the economic policies for repair.

How do we influence and make these choices?

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Reliability Green Belt Training from a Teaching Perspective

Reliability Green Belt Training from a Teaching Perspective

I joined the Reliability Belt training team in 2018 and have delivered 2 Reliability Green Belt and 1 Reliability Black Belt courses so far.  This is article is a review of my experience and the feedback from the participants.  Further information about the course is available on the Accendo website and on the Reliability Engineering Academy website.

This first article looks to the Reliability Green Belt.  A future article will look at the Reliability Black Belt experience.

“Les, you were awesome. One of the characteristics I liked the most was your cadence of speech. The metered delivery of each word and concept was very effective for me and my style of learning. If the words and concepts get delivered too quickly, I don’t have enough time to connect with the concept, write down my notes, and still keep up with the next thing being said. I found your analogies and examples of real world applications to be very relevant and helpful. Overall, I feel I have received value well above my expectations for the course, and with your instruction I was able to hit the ground running on the first day I got back. Thanks for teaching the course, and I look forward to continuing my education with the Reliability Black Belt program.” — Chris, Reliability Engineer

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Accelerated Tests

Accelerated Tests

Introduction

Reliability and durability are essential in today’s competitive market place. However, component reliability verification tests and system durability tests take a long time, cycles, or miles to complete. This puts these tests in direct conflict with program timing, product development budgets, and limited testing resources. To minimize this conflict, it is essential to accelerate these tests.

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Small Satellites, Emerging Technology and Big Opportunities (part six of seven) – A Call for ‘Evolutionary Production’

When is the biggest ‘improvement’ in the reliability of a new ‘type’ of product? This is a very broad question with no doubt lots of answers that aren’t wrong. But what we do know is that the more experience we have with building something, the more reliable it gets. And this effect is most marked at the start of the product’s life. [Read more…]

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Critical Thinking for Product Development

Critical Thinking for Product Development

Previous articles have covered product development tools and methodologies such as lean product development, agile, design for six sigma, product life cycle (PLC) and project management processes.

In this article, lets consider “the product” being developed any hardware product, software, IT system, service or new business process.  We’ll use the acronym “PSSBP” (Product, Service, Software, Business Process) as an all-encompassing placeholder and to illustrate critical thinking on the topic as follows:

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Making Asset Management Work

Making Asset Management Work

Understanding the Concepts and Principles of Asset Management

In order to implement an asset management system, it is vital to understand what is involved in an asset management system. The aspects involved have been tested over time through many different industries. These industries have proven to be what it takes to be successful.

So let’s see what it takes to be successful in asset management. [Read more…]

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Last Job Syndrome, The Risks of Project Past

Last Job Syndrome, The Risks of Project Past

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

We all use our work experience to a greater or lesser extent and often the most recent project is recalled as it is at the forefront of our minds.  However, is it the most relevant if we try to adapt our most recent, and hopefully successful, experience to meet the current situation? [Read more…]

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Small Satellites, Emerging Technology and Big Opportunities (part five of seven) – Stop solving the problem you want to solve

InnoCentive CEO Dwayne Spradlin wrote in this article about how many companies in a rush to develop something new and innovative try to solve a problem that they want to solve rather than the problem the customer wants to be solved. He quotes Albert Einstein who once said

If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.

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10 Things I Can Do Today To Improve Equipment Reliability!

10 Things I Can Do Today To Improve Equipment Reliability!

As companies around the globe look to improve equipment reliability I can’t help but think of the Technicians and Craftspeople I meet after a conference presentation. As they step up to introduce themselves to comment on the presentation some will often say “I really liked your presentation but I don’t think our management would ever support a program like this. What you are doing makes a lot of sense but we just don’t have the people and our operations managers don’t understand maintenance and reliability.” [Read more…]

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Needs and How to use an Expert for your Project

Needs and How to use an Expert for your Project

Needs and How to use an Expert for your Project

Finding an expert for your project is important. Knowing what traits they need and how to employ them will lead you to improved opportunity for success. We at Perry’s Solutions, Inc. have these key traits and exist as a business because we are often being used in this role – previously as a corporate employee and now as a consultant. [Read more…]

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Why Do You Need An Asset Management Program?

Why Do You Need An Asset Management Program?

Understanding the Business Benefits of an Asset Management Program

Have you tried to upgrade / replace a piece of equipment due to the high cost of maintenance?  What about having the process stopped by procurement because they are not aligned with the high upfront cost?

While there is a generally a common goal of ensuring the long-term success of an organization, the approach is not always cohesive.  An asset management program is there to ensure an integrated and cohesive approach is in place.  This cohesive approach ensures the organization is working towards a common goal. [Read more…]