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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- Risk management processThe systematic application of management policies, procedures, and practices that help minimize risks, with the primary goal of maintaining operational efficiency in the face of unexpected events. Read More
- Root cause analysis (RCA)A structured process or procedure to determine the most underlying or fundamental factor or reason for a failure.RCA is used to gather the necessary information to identify suitable short-term and long-term solutions to avoid similar failures in the future. Read More
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- Safety marginA 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. Using such a ratio enables one to account for expected and unexpected variation in applied loads to minimize item failure. Read More
- Safety margin and safety factor guidelinesA published set of safety margin requirements for specific situations or applications. Such guidelines offer policy guidance and details for use during the design and verification of an item. Read More
- SimulationAn approach in which one attempts to model a real-world system by representing key characteristics using different conditions over time. Simulation modeling for engineering analysis is often less expensive than creating prototypes. Read More
- Spares forecastingA process for estimating the expected demand for spare parts, components, subsystems, etc. necessary for future repairs or replacements. There are many potential processes for conducting the analysis, ranging from using historical demand graphical or statistical analysis or algorithms that(...) Read More
- Statistical process control (SPC)The set of activities using statistical techniques to reduce variation, increase knowledge of the process, and direct the process in a desired manner. SPC is often associated with control charting and provides a means to identify and minimize unwanted process variation and maintain process(...) Read More
- Stress–strength analysisAn analysis of the strength of the materials and the interference of the stresses placed on the materials, where “materials” are not necessarily the raw goods or parts but can be an entire system. Stress–strength analysis provides a means to account for the range of expected and unexpected(...) Read More
- SWOT analysisA technique used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to business competition or project planning. SWOT analysis makes use of a concise description of factors that may influence or frame the establishment of a reliability vision or related objectives. Read More
- System effectivenessVarious specific elements have been defined by different authors, yet they generally comprise the concepts of availability, dependability, and capability. Read More
- System safety managementAll plans and actions taken to identify hazards; assess and mitigate associated risks; and track, control, accept, and document risks encountered in the design, development, test, acquisition, use, and disposal of systems, subsystems, equipment, and infrastructure. Read More
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- Tolerance analysisThe calculation of the allowable deviation from a standard or nominal value that maintains fit, form, and function. Tolerance analysis provides a means to account for the natural variation of parts and fittings. Read More
- Total quality management (TQM)The set of tools and practices used to manage company resources with a focus on customer satisfaction as the means to achieving sustained financial success. All levels of the organization participate in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of processes and systems to(...) Read More
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- A technique to visually represent (in a manner similar to a flowchart) all the elements, including information, material, and process elements, that make up a value stream, a portion of a value stream, or a specific process. Value stream mapping enables existing or potential processes,(...) Read More
- Vendor selection processAn established process to assess potential vendors, often utilizing more than one criteria. Criteria may include technical capability, quality and reliability performance, financial stability, ability to deliver on time, responsiveness to requests, cost, and environmental impact. Vendor(...) Read More
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- Warranty analysisThe statistical and/or graphical analysis of data related to the expected or actual item failures during the warranty period. Warranty analysis is performed to estimate the warranty expenses for a product using reliability estimations. In addition, the analysis of existing warranty claims data(...) Read More
- Warranty managementA process to establish the terms of a product’s warranty, including duration and policies on replacement, repair, or compensation. Warranty management may also include the oversight and operation of call centers and repair centers, financial analysis, and the reporting of warranty accruals and(...) Read More
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