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.
e
- EthicsA set of moral principles; a theory or system of moral values; the principles of conduct governing an individual or group. Read More
- Event-oriented inspectionA special on-condition inspection following the occurrence of a specific event that may have caused damage. Read More
- Event-oriented systemOne of the various information systems employed in the aircraft and other industries for collecting data on specific failure events. Read More
- Evident functionA function whose failure is evident to the operating personal during the performance of normal duties. Read More
- Evolutionary operation (EVOP)A term that describes the way sequential experimental designs can be adapted by learning from present results and predicting future treatments for better responses. Read More
- ExperimentA test undertaken to make an improvement in a process or to learn previously unknown information. A deliberate investigation of a system through selective adjustment of controllable conditions in order to improve or to understand the system. Read More
- Experimental designThe assignment of experimental treatments to each of the experimental units in the experiment. Also known as design of experiments. Read More
- Experimental errorVariation in response or outcome of virtually identical test conditions. See also Residual Error. Read More
- Experimental planThe set of specifications for the intended procedure when executed implements the experiment. Read More
- Experimental spaceThe resources employed or available to conduct and experiment including materials, equipment, environmental condition, etc. Read More
- Experimental treatmentThe specific settings or level of each factor for a particular experimental unit. Also known as a run. Read More
- Experimental unitIn design of experiments it is the basic unit of the experimental material. Read More
- Exponentially weighted moving average chart (EWMA)A statistical process control chart using information exponentially weighted from past observations. Read More
- External structural itemAny portion of the structure that is ‘visible’ without the opening of quick-access panels or the removal of covering items. Read More
- Extrinsic failure mechanismAn error initiated failure that may have occurred during the design or assembly process or initiated by a defect within the fabrication or assembly materials. Read More
f
- F ratioA statistic representing the mathematical ratio of the between-group mean square error to the within-group mean square error for a set of data used to assess the probability of random occurrence at a selected level of confidence. Read More
- Factor"In design of experiment it is the feature or characteristic under examination as a potential variation cause." Read More
- Factor effectA factor that exerts some influence on the response variable. The effects may include main, dispersion and confounded effects. Read More
- Factor levelIn design of experiments, the setting, value, or assignment of a factor. Read More
- Factor of SafetyA ratio of an item’s absolute strength to the actual applied load. It expresses how much stronger a system is than it needs to be for an intended load. Also known as Design Margin or Safety Factor. Read More
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