Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
PdM & CBM are in almost every discussion that involves improving plant performance and reducing costs. But what is the difference between the two and when should one be used over the other? This post will address those two questions and a few cautions when using these techniques. [Read more…]
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The new CRE body of knowledge goes into effect for exams starting January 2018.
The changes include topics that has been dropped, added, or altered. There also is a new structure with 5 main groups rather than the previous seven. Overall, the BoK remained pretty much the same with a reorganization of the topics.
Reading the new BoK and comparing it to the old BoK raises a few concerns or observations. Let’s take a look at the new structure and what the changes say about the reliability engineering profession. [Read more…]
Big dreams and ambition have always come pretty easily to me. Watching the Magnificent 7 compete for Olympic gold in 1996, 11-year old me was convinced that I could become a champion gymnast. Little did I know that these same dreams and ambitions would help serve as lessons learned in becoming an engineering subject matter expert.
My gymnastics dreams did not care that I only had a couple of years of tumbling training. No bother to my ambition that my parents could not afford our monthly bills, let alone specialized coaching. “No big deal!” said my heart when reminded that I was terrified of a back handspring – how would I ever be able to accomplish the death defying acrobatics an Olympic gymnast must complete? [Read more…]
Talking is not the same as a discussion or conversation. Talking is one direction only. If two people are talking, they are talking at each other.
A discussion is two way. When two people have a discussion information passes both ways, both speak, both listen.
As an engineer, there is plenty to discuss. We work with others to find solutions, make compromises, determine optimizations, and finish projects. We need to share our knowledge and insights, as well as learn from others.
You can learn to foster true discussions and minimize simply talking at one another. You can take steps to enable the give and take exchange of a discussion. [Read more…]
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Historically, it has been relatively easy to meet customer system requirements using basic testing techniques. Today, however, customers require faster changes in technology and requirements are getting more difficult to meet. Competitive cost pressures have made the achievement of goals an even tougher task. In some cases, customers have requested and in a few cases mandated tools for companies to “be more efficient and organized in testing”. These facts create the need for organized and effective testing methods to be incorporated in all phases of the development process. [Read more…]
You walk into the plant on Monday morning. You are immediately confront by the production manager stating “Press 201 is down. The mechanics are saying it is the clutch again.” You feel an overwhelming sense disbelief. You ran overtime last weekend and replaced clutch at a cost of $30,000. How is it the clutch is failing again?
This scenario may sound familiar. It happens all the time, across many different industries and plants. So what exactly happened? The root cause was not properly diagnosed, and the clutch was replaced. Based on the short life of the new clutch, the root cause was likely something else that is affecting the clutch. [Read more…]
Guest Post by Umberto Tunesi (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body).
It could also be translated that quality of life is more important than the span of life, the number of years you live.
Or that medicine’s task is not to add years to your life but the life to your years.
And it might also be that such a formula for life – originally a Juvenal’s wish or prayer – is much more ancient than its Latin transcription. [Read more…]
Last week we reviewed the 10+ topics removed from the CRE body of knowledge (BoK). This week, let’s look at the additions.
Three of the additions are new categories or groups of topics that in part contain new topics. There are five new topics, that in most cases included bits and pieces of concepts buried in the previous BoK.
Let’s take a look at each additions in a bit more detail. Some I agree with, some I wonder what the motivation is behind the addition, and some I question why it is included. [Read more…]
When I entered the working world in February of 1981 I was ready to set the world on fire, I had been hired into an apprentice program at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York and while some would recognize this as an entry level position, I was determined to make a difference in how this company operated its business. [Read more…]
Chris Jackson can help you with a range of reliability engineering issues and problems.
Chris has a PhD in Reliability Engineering and has been the Director of UCLA’s Center for Reliability and Resilience Engineering (CRRE) … so he can help you with the higher-level theory of reliability probability, modeling and statistics.
He was an officer in the Australian Army where he (amongst other things) led hundreds of engineers and technicians to support multi-million dollar fleets of equipment … so he knows how the operational management side works.
He has also consulted to many clients for many different issues … so he knows about organizational reliability management issues.
Chris has been a project manager for a number of government projects … which means he is well versed on the realities of materiel contract management. He has published multiple textbooks including Reliability Engineering and Management.
He founded UCLA’s Center for the Safety and Reliability of Autonomous Systems (SARAS … www.risksciences.ucla.edu/saras)
Chris offers a course titled Fault Tree Analysis.
Reliability doesn’t just happen. Following standards, doing what worked 10 years ago or any other approach to reliability engineering that doesn’t focus on what your system is today won’t make reliability happen.
Fault trees are great at modeling system reliability. They are one of several tools that can help you turn what you know about component or subsystem failure characteristics into an understanding of system reliability characteristics. Which lets you measure reliability.
Chris writes the Reliability in Emerging Technology series.
The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself. We are constantly exposed to new and better products, services that are more efficient, and things that generally make our lives better.
But how long will they work for? … and will they be safe?
The Probabilistic Physics of Failure Approach to Reliability book presents highly technical approaches to the probabilistic physics of failure analysis and applications to accelerated life and degradation testing to reliability prediction and assessment. Beside reviewing a select set of important failure mechanisms, the book covers basic and advanced methods of performing accelerated life test and accelerated degradation tests and analyzing the test data. The book includes a large number of very useful examples to help readers understand complicated methods described. Finally, MATLAB, R and OpenBUGS computer scripts are provided and discussed to support complex computational probabilistic analyses introduced.
Reliability Engineering and Management is a textbook that covers both the engineering and management elements of reliable systems. Reliability is an inherently complex field of study, and it is not easy to apply technically or manage practically. This textbook is aimed at both the managers of reliability teams and reliability teams themselves. Many historical catastrophes caused by human-made systems failing are caused by organizational shortcomings. Systems ranging from the Space Shuttle to the Deepwater Horizon did not fail because of a lack of understanding of the physics – they failed because of managerial decisions. So structuring the organization to ensure reliability is as essential as reliability engineering itself.
This textbook also covers the key concepts that reliability engineers need to know to undertake their jobs. It includes sections of probability and statistics (including the Weibull distribution) through to modelling (at both component and system levels). It examines the hardware, software and human domains of systems, and how they need to be considered in combination. It also covers how to assure reliability, and what Design for Reliability (DfR) activities should be employed and when (such as FMECA and RCM).
Chris is one of the co-hosts 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.
Chris has a monthly series of events in the Accendo Reliability Webinar Series.
Let’s have an in-depth discussion during the live webinar series events: Reliability Engineering Basics, Statistics, Accelerated Testing, Program Assessment, and Improvement. Catch up or review past events below.
To attend an upcoming live event, visit the Live Events section of the site, which lists the available upcoming webinars. Recordings are available via recorded videos or audio only via the podcast show.
Christopher’s author archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.
Ask a question or send along a comment.
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I just noticed the new 2018 ASQ CRE Body of Knowledge had been posted on the ASQ site. The new BoK will be in effect for CRE exams as of January 2018. Thus, we have six months to adjust to the new body of knowledge.
This is part 1 of a multipart review of the new BoK. Here we’ll look at the parts that those preparing for the exam will not have to master or review. There are 10+ topics dropped completely or in part from the BoK.
In future articles, we’ll review what has been added, what has been changed (a review), and how to best prepare for exams based on the new BoK. Plus, we can look over past BoK’s to understand where reliability engineering practice is today.
In part, the logic is these sets of tools (topics) that are not widely used by working reliability engineers. In some cases, I agree, and in others, I don’t. Let’s look at the eight topics not found in the upcoming CRE BoK. [Read more…]
The role of a reliability engineer is to support the other engineers and managers as they make decisions concerning reliability.
Our ability may be well honed and effective. Or it may be fumbling or annoying. It is our ability to communicate along with our technical ability that determine our ability to influence well.
We may do analysis or testing. We follow up on failures and evaluate suppliers. What we actually are doing is influencing decisions. [Read more…]
A little background and motivation for the material in this course.
The key training objectives are summarized below:
6 months of access from date of purchse.
Steven Wachs, Course InstructorSteven Wachs has 25 years of wide-ranging industry experience in both technical and management positions. Steve has worked as a statistician at Ford Motor Company where he has extensive experience in the development of statistical models, reliability analysis, designed experimentation, and statistical process control.
Steve is currently a Principal Statistician at Integral Concepts, Inc. where he assists manufacturers in the application of statistical methods to reduce variation and improve quality and productivity. He also possesses expertise in the application of reliability methods to achieve robust and reliable products as well as estimate and reduce warranty. Steve regularly speaks at industry conferences and provides workshops in industrial statistical methods worldwide.
Select the first lesson, “Coure Introduction” within Module 1 to view a course overview and recommendations to get the most from this course.
If you have already signed up for the course, login and enjoy.
Immediate access for 6 months to all course lessons discussing concepts, reviewing procedures and flushing out context and applicability.
Plus, I’m here to support you upon request.
Lessons include text, video lectures, quick quizzes, exercises, and activities. The intent is to encourage you to immediately apply the lessons within your organization such that you can start improving process stability and quality.
This will depend on how many video lectures you view and how many of the sample exam problems you attempt. The course contains 10 modules, with a total of 67 lessons including 16 exercises. There are approximately 14 hours of lectures. You have access to the course for 6 months.
It is recommended that beyond the lectures, you plan on another 10 to 20 hours for reading and working the exercises. Plus, you are encouraged to ‘try this at work/home’ too.
You can always revisit a lesson or check a detail in the supporting student text.
An interest in statistical process control and process capability Or, more accurately, an interest in improving the stability and consistency of your processes.
Famarility with basic statistical concepts is not necessary for this course.
If you are not satisfied with the content, send me an email within 30 days for a full refund.
We often present proposals and reports. We talk about the plan or results. We want funding, approval, or action. We need excellent presentation skills.
Excellent communication skills is often on job openings. It is not there by chance. Your ability to communicate well, especially via presentations is vital for your success and the success of your reliability program.
If your team, peers, or management do not understand your proposal or report when you present, few will take the time to read the material instead. Your presentation skills provide the incentive for action from your audience. Action you can guide using your presentation skills. [Read more…]
This episode of the weekly podcast is about reliability drive by that is very common in the organizations that have multiple sites. So how often does this happen and why? What exactly is a reliability drive by? Those organizations that have multiple sites with assets or plants there with teams working there often send their reliability engineers to check the site get any information that they can get in a specified—usually very short time—and then move on to the next sites for doing the same things they did on the previous sites. This is called reliability drive by.
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