draftcomputerversion 1 01/07/00 Converting System Failure Histories into Future Win Situations

Henry Petroski devotes an entire book to failures in engineering and lessons to be learned [1]. In his preface, he states "the concept of failure- mechanical and structural failure in the context of this discussion- is central to understanding engineering, for engineering design has as its first and foremost objective the obviation of failure. " He further states "the lessons learned from … disasters can do mor