ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNAL RELIABILITY DATA SOURCES AND RELIABILITY PREDICTIONS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS IN EARLY SYSTEM DESIGN

Two common reliability prediction methods are the traditional method and physics of failure method. Each method requires accurate failure data in order to fully assess a system’s durability. This is particularly important in early system design when historical design and relative failure rates are non-existent. Consequently, practitioners rely on the use of external reliability data sources such as MIL-HDBK-217F, especially when using the traditional reliability approach. Several other external reliability data sources are available to the practitioner, each with its own strengths and limitations. This thesis surveys the various external data sources industries use in reliability predictions and assesses the completeness of the reliability data sources. The thesis presents the inherent limitations of all external data sources along with further considerations on using the traditional reliability approach. Early system design offers practitioners a significant amount of decision-making flexibility. This thesis further analyzes both reliability approaches and addresses when it is appropriate for a practitioner to use either approach or a combination of the two approaches. The author develops a reliability decision framework to aid practitioners in selecting the reliability prediction approach appropriate for the system.http://archive.org/details/assessmentofexte1094560421Civilian, Department of the NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited