Track 1 Session 2
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday June 17, 2008

Beyond Theory: The Art and Practical Application of Reliability Growth Modeling to Improve Customer Satisfaction

Cost and time-to-market pressures often preclude the sort of demonstration testing required to prove reliability readiness in new product development. Reliability growth modeling on prototype and pilot units is reported in the literature to provide affordable early prediction of fielded reliability. In practice, effective reliability growth modeling is far more complex than simply loading failure data into modeling software. Based on experience gained from analyzing reliability growth data taken from new product introductions of complex electronic measurement systems, the finer points of an effective reliability growth modeling process will be shared during this presentation. It is from practical application of these methods that accurate predictive results have been achieved. Early prediction of fielded reliability provides an opportunity to develop mitigation strategies should it appear that new product reliability goals will not be realized. At the end of the day, assuring customer satisfaction is the objective, and developing strategies based on reliability growth techniques is a critical step.

Key Words: Reliability Growth Modeling, Customer-Experienced Reliability, New Product Introduction, Fielded Reliability, Practical Application, Reliability Growth Modeling Processes, Projected MTBF