The Reliability Engineering Glossary
Reliability engineering and related fields use a vocabulary unique to our field of endeavor. For example, the term ‘reliability’ has the meaning of ‘trustworthy’ in everyday English use. For us, ‘reliability’ has a precise engineering definition.
Glossary description and plans
This glossary is meant to help us learn the language of reliability engineering. The category of ‘Terms’ is like a dictionary, including terms and their definitions as used by engineers. The category of ‘Methods’ is a listing of the techniques, tools, approaches, or concepts that may be found within a reliability plan. In the near future, we expect to expand the ‘Methods’ pages to include guidelines on use or application, examples, and additional references.
We also plan to expand the glossary to include formulas and failure mechanisms. Please let us know if there is another list of terms that should be added if you do not find a term that should be included or if you would like to recommend a change to an existing entry.
Method Categories
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- Design matrixIn design of experiments, a matrix where the rows represent individual experimental treatments. Depending on the designed experiment, it may be possible to extend the matrix using deduced levels of other functions of the factor levels (such as interaction, quadratic terms, etc. Read More
- Design of experiments (DOE)The arrangement in which an experimental program is to be conducted and selection of the levels of one or more factors or factor combinations to be included in the experiment. It is also known as statistical design of experiment, as it entails a versatile statistical approach to screen for(...) Read More
- Design regionIn design of experiments and models, the set of allowable values for predictor variables. Also known as the design space. Read More
- Design resolutionIn design of experiment when using factional factorials, it is the length of the shortest word in the defining relation. It is a measure of the aliasing among the main effects and the two-way and higher interactions. Read More
- Design reviewA milestone or periodic activity within a product development process whereby a design is evaluated against its requirements to verify the outcomes of previous activities and identify issues before committing to (and if need be reprioritizing) further work. Read More
- Design rulesA set of basic rules, regulations, or guidelines for specific applications or use conditions. Read More
- Designed Experiment" A planned study involving statistical analysis of a series tests in which purposeful changes are made to process factors, and the effects observed, in order to determine the relationship of process variables and improve the process." Read More
- Detectable FailureFailures at the component, equipment, subsystem, or system (product) level that can be identified through periodic testing or revealed by an alarm or an indication of an anomaly. Read More
- Detection accuracyThe number of detected failure cases accomplished correctly often expresses as a ration of correct detections cases over all cases. Read More
- Detection timeThe duration from the occurrence of an anomaly or event that should be detected by the system till the time the system records the anomaly. Read More
- Development TestTesting performed during development and integration to ensure critical design parameters are met, verify the performance of an item's design, and produce data supporting design improvements. Development test, sometimes called engineering test, also discloses deficiencies and verifies that(...) Read More
- Development Test And Evaluation (DT&E)Test and evaluation focused on the technological and engineering aspects of the product (system, subsystem, or equipment). Read More
- DeviationThe difference between a measurement (or quasi-measurement) and the stated value or intended level. Read More
- Device-under-test (DUT)An item that is the subject of an experiment or evaluation. Read More
- DFR handbookA document detailing a range of design activities and tools that support the effort to create a reliable item. The handbook may include basic procedures and approaches, resources for additional information, best practices, and lessons-learned information. Specific sets of approaches, tools,(...) Read More
- Diagnostic timeThe duration from the occurrence of an anomaly or event till the fault is isolated (determination a fault exists) and identified (optional — labeling the type of fault). Read More
- DiagnosticsThe hardware, software, or other documented means used to determine that a malfunction has occurred and to isolate the cause of the malfunction. Also refers to "the action of detecting and isolating failures or faults." Read More
- Die-scale packageAn electronic device package with an areas that is generally equal to the area of the semiconductor device within. Read More
- Direct effect of failureThe physical effects resulting from a single failure which will be felt before the planned retirement of the item. Read More
- Direct Maintenance Man Hours per Maintenance Action (DMMH/MA)A measure of the maintainability parameter related to item demand for maintenance manpower: the sum of direct maintenance man hours, divided by the total number of maintenance actions (preventative and corrective) during a stated tine period. Read More
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