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.
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- 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
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
- Direct Maintenance Man Hours per Maintenance Event (DMMH/ME)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 events (preventative and corrective) during a stated time period. Read More
- DirectivesAn official or authoritative instruction; for example, laws passed by the European Union covering general product safety or product groups. Read More
- DisassembleOpening an item and removing a number of parts or subassemblies to make the item that is to be replaced accessible to removal; does not include the actual removal of the item to be replaced. Read More
- Discard taskThe scheduled removal of all units of an item to discard the item or one of its parts at a specified life limit; one of the four basic tasks in an RCM program. Read More
- DiscolorationA change in color caused by residue, chemical reaction, ultraviolet radiation, oxidization, or heat. (maybe others depending on your system) Read More
- Discrete deviceA semiconductor electronics device that performs a basic function (resistor, capacitor, diode, etc.). The device has no smaller or subset element that is functional in itself. Read More
- DiscriminationThe ability of a measurement system to differentiate between values of a characteristic. The discrimination should be small compared to the characteristic variability, tolerance, or control limits. Read More
- Discrimination aliasThe smallest readable unit, discrimination is the measurement resolution, scale limit, or smallest detectable unit of the measurement device and standard. It is an inherent property of gage design and reported as a unit of measurement or classification. Read More
- Discrimination ratioIn acceptance sampling it is the ratio of the consumer’s risk quality and the producer’s risk quality. Read More
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