Christopher Jackson — Thought Leader

Author of Reliability in Emerging Technology, multiple books, co-host on Speaking of Reliability, and speaker in the Accendo Reliability Webinar Series.

This author's archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.

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SOR 436 Is Testing Always Necessary?

Is Testing Always Necessary?

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss what happens when you have failure … but don’t know why. This is a challenging problem that most reliability engineers will face throughout their career. You will always need to use an objective, structured and strategic approach. And you will often find that a lot of information is at your fingertips – you may be able to create a very short list of candidate root causes without having to test. Effort without direction won’t solve problems. If you want to learn more about solving this really challenging problems, then listen to this podcast.
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SOR 425 Leaders That Don’t Understand

Leaders That Don’t Understand

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss ‘Leaders that Don’t Understand.’ And by ‘Don’t Understand’ … we mean they don’t understand what their organization sells or does. Sometimes this can work (within reason). Leaders who are not experts in their product or services can still be effective if they know that they need to listen to those around them. But this can go too far – if all decisions need to be collectively agreed by a large cadre of people before the leader in question agrees to make a decision. This isn’t leadership at all. The concept of having ‘everyone on board’ can decimate decision making speed, innovation and a focus on customers. Have you had a similar experience?
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SOR 422 What Do I Do When the MTBF is Imposed on Me?

What Do I Do When MTBF is Imposed?

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss what happens when you can’t avoid having the MTBF imposed upon you – even if it is your own organization and not the customer. Perhaps you are told that ‘our competitors quote the MTBF … so we have to as well!’ But you can (sneakily) tailor test data to get whatever MTBF you want. You can make life easy on yourself by not challenging this paradigm (noting that you will most likely get an unhappy customer). But it is almost impossible to apportion MTBF goals to individual designers that even allow the motivated ones to create a reliable system. So what do you do? Listen to this podcast to help you on your reliability journey.
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SOR 421 Specification Requires Testing… Really?

Specification Requires Testing… Really?

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss scenarios where it is (for whatever reason) impossible to demonstrate reliability through testing. Some organizations think that if you can’t demonstrate through testing … then it can’t be a requirement that appears in a specification. So … does this mean that the customer can’t get something that is reliable if we can’t test for it? … can customers even ask for it? Of course they can. The customer knows what they want. Everyone needs to understand that you can verify performance through activities that don’t involve testing (… like analysis). This is how it works for nuclear power plants … so what makes your organization special? Listen to this podcast if this intrigues you.
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SOR 413 Characteristics of an Organization That Limits Reliability

Characteristics of an Organization That Limits Reliability

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss what ‘tell’s an organization that sucks at reliability has. That is, can you just tell an organization makes terrible products before you even get to their reliability department/guidebook/strategy/laboratory? And if you can, what are they? Our experience shows that when we are brought in to solve a ‘reliability’ problem, we need to address a vision/leadership/resourcing/(insert poor business practice here) issue. If this interests you … please listen to this podcast!
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SOR 412 Are Regulators Good For Reliability

Are Regulators Good For Reliability

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss the role regulators play in many industries. Are we better off because of them? In many cases … yes. But perhaps regulators are also getting in the way of us doing things better. And at what point does their ‘net harm’ exceed their ‘net good’? Can regulators do a better job, and perhaps create an alternative to archaic checklists and compliance audits? We think yes. If this topic interests you, listen to this podcast!
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SOR 399 Paths to Learning Reliability

Paths to Learning Reliability

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss about how to learn to be a reliability engineer. And ‘learn’ means different things. It could be experiential learning. It could be academic learning. It could be instructional or ‘mentorship’ learning. And you tend to be a particular type of a reliability engineer based on how you learn about reliability. But there are pros and cons for each approach. And sometimes, you just ‘stumble’ into a learning process when a company sponsors you to become their expert. There are so many different ways to learn about reliability. This podcast talks about some of the more common ways, and how each tailors to a certain learning path.
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SOR 398 Introducing Accendo Reliability 2020

Introducing Accendo Reliability 2020

Abstract

Chris and Fred discuss the new challenges of reliability in the upcoming years. Accendo was originally setup to help reliability professionals in an objective and broad forum. And this appeared to fill a void. Trade magazines are over-bearing, with sponsor adds replacing well thought-out articles. Professional societies are becoming less and less relevant (but more expensive). And Accendo lists ‘competitor’ programs, blogs and articles where other organizations strictly focus on their products, courses, books and so on. So Accendo has become the only ‘one stop shop’ for the reliability engineering community who want to develop their skills.

[Read more…]

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SOR 395 Professional Tidier Marie Kondo … and How we Can Do the Same in Reliability

Professional Tidier Marie Kondo … and How we Can Do the Same in Reliability

Abstract

Chris and Carl discussing how the self discipline of taking care of personal “tidiness” can be applied to improve the organization of reliability activities.
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SOR 384 The Definition of Reliability and Quality

The Definition of Reliability and Quality

Abstract

Chris and Adam discuss how the definitions of ‘reliability’ and ‘quality’ align … or differ. What are the differences? Do these differences matter for all applications? Is there merit in arguing that there is a difference? Well … the answer to each question is both ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Confused? Perhaps listening to this podcast might help. Because we should only use definitions that help us and our organization. In a way, using a definition that makes the most sense to your organization is not only acceptable, it is necessary. And many organizations have failed because they have never understood these differences.
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Your organization sucks at reliability if (#2) … it loves firefighters so much it forgets to hate fires.

Before you go on, please have a look at British comedian John Oliver’s video on infrastructure – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpzvaqypav8.

OK, if you are reading this and still haven’t watched the video … please go back and try again. You can do it.

If you haven’t watched the video by now, then I concede defeat. In short, the video is a humorous take on the state of US infrastructure. Particularly bridges. Bridges have been collapsing with alarming frequency in recent years. And after much political wrangling there is still no plan to pay for fixing crumbling columns, spans and struts. It is not as if the federal and state governments don’t know how bad things are (again … watch the video).

Oliver proposes a perhaps novel reason for all of this. [Read more…]

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Your organization sucks at reliability if (#1) … it could be on ‘that’ Fatboy Slim album cover.

Alright … this needs a lot of context. English electronic music artist ‘Fatboy Slim’ released his ‘You’ve come a Long Way, Baby’ album in 1998. Its cover art was a photograph of an attendee at the 1983 ‘Fat People’s Festival’ in Danville, Virginia. And perhaps due to its ‘heritage,’ the album’s cover was changed to an image of a bookshelf for North American listeners. But the rest of the world got to bask in its magnificence.

So what is particular about this photograph? The subject is a larger than average human (as you would expect noting where it was taken). And he is wearing a shirt emblazoned:

I’m #1 so why try harder?

I am not writing this as a commentary on human value versus instinctive stereotypes. Far from it. There are plenty of people who are ‘better than all others at something’ that do not have sleek chiseled physiques. [Read more…]

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SOR 375 HALT Versus ALT

HALT Versus ALT

Abstract

Chris and Adam discussing HALT and ALT. What are these? HALT stands for Highly Accelerated Life Testing. ALT stands for Accelerated Life Testing. They sound very similar. But they are not. HALT is a destructive test regime. In fact, a good HALT plan will involve that product failing many times. This is done by subjecting the product to stresses (vibration, thermal cycling et cetera) well beyond actual operating stresses. Some of the failures this creates will not be relevant. That is, they will simply never occur when the product is used ‘normally.’ But many failures are relevant. And by undertaking HALT, we now have a good idea of which failure mechanisms and modes are likely to occur when it is used normally. And this information is incredibly valuable to a design team. ALT on the other hand starts with a failure mechanism you know about. And in a short period of time, you can predict how long that failure mechanism will cause your product to fail when used normally.

Still confused? Well listen to this podcast.

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SOR 374 Reliability Security Blankets

Reliability Security Blankets

Abstract

Chris and Adam discuss ‘reliability security blankets.’ What are these? These are things that people or organizations do to give the illusion of ‘achieving something to do with reliability’ primarily to make them ‘feel’ better. Reliability security blankets tend to have little positive benefit. When we are focused on a feeling of ‘reliability goodness’ we quickly try to find the easiest way to get that feeling. Which leads us to standard or outdated methods, non-critical thinking, or (worst case) tests that are structured to ensure a system or product passes. Resources are sucked away from good reliability activities to create these reliability security blankets. If you think this applies to your organization, listen to this podcast.
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SOR 373 A Brief History of Reliability

A Brief History of Reliability

Abstract

Chris and Adam discuss a ‘brief history of reliability.’ There are many significant milestones in the history of mankind. The dawn of the iron age meant that instead of having tools that lasted a matter of days, humans could (in a very short period of time) create tools that lasted several human lifetimes. The Industrial Revolution of the 1800s taught us that we could ‘over-engineer’ a device so that it would last longer than its ‘useful life.’ There are many more different milestones and events that have defined reliability over time. And these have shaped how we deal with product and device reliability today. Learn more by listening to this podcast. ᐅ Play Episode