Track 1 Session 3
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday March 25, 2009

How Do Reliability Methods Fit into Computer Aided Engineering?

This presentation addresses the question of how reliability tools and methods are applied in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). We will explore how this combined approach can help reduce risk in product development and through life performance monitoring of products and systems. In particular, we will discuss how reliability tools can help when using simulation methods such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). We will attempt to close the loop and show how tools such as FEA can be used in reliability planning. We will also explore the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology in the context of product design and reliability testing.

Key Words: Risk Management, Product Development, Through/Whole Life Management, Accelerated Testing, Weibull, FMEA, FTA, RBD, Monte-Carlo, FEA, CFD, QFD, Strategic Planning.

Mike McCarthy
Wilde FEA Ltd.
United Kingdom