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What exactly is “damage” in engineering, and how do you predict when it will end a product’s life? Join Mojan and Fred as they explore damage modeling through the lens of reliability engineering. They discuss why understanding damage accumulation is critical for both designers and field teams, and how monitoring thresholds throughout a product’s life can transform maintenance and testing strategy. ᐅ Play Episode
Enrico and Fred discuss the difference between complex and complicated products and what it means for reliability engineering. Using examples ranging from rockets and home appliances to computers and fountain pens, they explore the limits of component-level analysis, the role of system testing, and why surprises remain unavoidable even in well-engineered products.
What is the definition of reliability? Outside of the field of reliability, who defines it or what a failure is? Join Mojan and Fred as they explore how reliability is perceived across the product development ecosystem—from customers to suppliers to design engineers—and why the classic “but it met the spec!” defense misses the point. They discuss why the customer’s perspective is ultimately the only one that matters, and how asking the right questions can prevent the costly mistake of building something that technically works but fails in the real world. ᐅ Play Episode
Carl and Fred discuss why organizational culture is not fixed, and how reliability-focused leadership, communication, and sustained engagement can gradually transform the way teams think and operate.
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Carl and Fred discuss why effective reliability planning begins with identifying the gaps between an organization’s current capabilities and its long-term reliability vision.
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Enrico and Fred discuss the value of professional networking in reliability engineering. Drawing from their experiences with Accendo Reliability, they explore how sharing knowledge, contributing content, and engaging with experts outside one’s company can accelerate professional growth, strengthen reliability culture, and create opportunities for both individuals and organizations. ᐅ Play Episode
Dianna and Fred discuss the reliability contract: the RE’s role as internal consultant.
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Dianna and Fred discuss reliability and volume, comparing high-volume products with low-volume high-stakes products.
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In this episode of the Podcast, Fred Schenkelberg and Philip Sage explore the importance of aligning test methods with real-world reliability problems rather than defaulting to familiar tools or pre-existing equipment. Through anecdotes from industry experience—including discussions on environmental chambers, vendor testing standards, and engineering challenges in fields like automotive, petrochemical, and aerospace—they highlight the pitfalls of conducting tests that fail to answer the key questions about product reliability. The hosts emphasize the necessity of defining the problem, selecting meaningful test conditions, and ensuring that test outcomes inform critical design or business decisions. Their conversation underlines a central message: possessing a tool or capability does not justify its use unless it serves the reliability objectives at hand, encapsulated by the recurring theme of conducting “the right test at the right time.”
Philip and Fred discuss Testing and over testing.
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Philip and Fred discuss a common challenge in reliability engineering: using the right tool—not just the one you’re most comfortable with.
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Kirk and Fred discuss right-to-repair laws and the trade-offs for design and manufacturing.
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Enrico and Fred discuss the many ways working on creating a reliable product is difficult.
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Dianna and Fred discuss the dangers of lifecycle target misalignment and how they impact product engineering and customer satisfaction.
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