The Reliability Contract
Abstract
Dianna and Fred discuss the reliability contract: the RE’s role as internal consultant.
Key Points
Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss the reliability engineer’s role as an internal consultant and why setting clear expectations is vital for project success.
Topics include:
- the three main ways reliability experts provide value
- how to look past the presenting problem to uncover what a project manager really needs to know
- how a formal or informal reliability contract can ensure your data actually informs critical design decisions
Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches.
Show Notes
In this episode, Fred and Dianna address the complex relationship between reliability engineers and the development teams they support.
Whether working as an external consultant or an internal specialist, the reliability engineer must establish trust and provide clear deliverables. This often involves negotiating a reliability contract, whether it is a formal document or a simple handshake, to define roles and timelines. They discuss how engineers can act as a pair of hands for testing, as technical experts for complex analysis, or as mentors to the broader organization.
A significant challenge in these roles is the presenting problem. A manager might ask for a specific test without fully understanding the underlying risk they need to mitigate. By asking the right questions early in the concept phase, reliability engineers can reframe these requests to provide more value.
Creating a plan serves as a reliability contract that outlines decision points and required resources. This collaborative approach helps avoid the perception of reliability as a roadblock and instead positions it as a vital service for making better business decisions.
Leave a Reply