CRE Preparation Notes

Prep notes for ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer exam ISSN 2165-8633

The idea of the CRE Preparation Notes series is to provide you short practical tutorials on all the elements that make up the ASQ CRE body of knowledge. The articles provide introductionary material, basics, how-to’s, examples, and practical use guidance for the full range of reliability engineering concepts, terms, tools, and practices.

Keep your knowledge fresh with regular review of topics and tools that make up reliability engineering.

- Improve your reliability engineering skills

- Learn about the wide range of tools available

- Enhance your resume with the ASQ CRE

You will find the most recent tutorials in reverse chronological order below. Below each article is the section and specific clause of the CRE Body of Knowledge that tutorial addresses. Click on those tags to find other articles on the same topic. To the right on the sidebar, there is a listing of the 7 major categories in the body of knowledge - it's a quick way to find groups of articles on each specific area. You can also use the search function to locate articles, podcasts, or tutorials on specific topics.

by Fred Schenkelberg 2 Comments

The 4 Parameter Beta Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Beta distribution is a univariate continuous distribution. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Beta Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

The Beta function is not used to describe life data very often yet is used to describe model parameters that are contained within an interval. For example given a probability parameter constrained from 0 ≤ p ≤ 1 the use of the Beta distribution is well suited to model such a parameter.

The Beta distribution is also known as a Pearson Type I distribution. [Read more…]

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The 2 Parameter Logistic Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Logistic distribution is univariate continuous distribution. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Logistic Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

It has the essential formulas that you may find useful when answering specific questions. Knowing a distribution’s set of parameters does provide, along with the right formulas, a quick means to answer a wide range of reliability related questions. [Read more…]

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The 2 Parameter Normal Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Normal distribution is a continuous distribution widely taught. It is commonly used to describe items, measurements, or time to failure data when there are many additive perturbations that comprise the results. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Normal Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

by Fred Schenkelberg 1 Comment

The 2 Parameter Lognormal Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Lognormal distribution is a versatile and continuous distribution. It is similar to the Weibull in flexibility with just slightly fatter tails in most circumstances. It is commonly used to describe time to repair behavior. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Lognormal Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

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The 1 Parameter Exponential Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Exponential distribution is popular and useful in isolated situations. It has some nice features and flexibility that support it’s popularity. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Exponential Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

by Fred Schenkelberg Leave a Comment

The Gamma Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Gamma distribution is routinely used to describe systems undergoing sequences of events or shocks which lead to eventual failure. Also used to describe renewal processes. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Gamma Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

by Fred Schenkelberg 5 Comments

The 2 Parameter Weibull Distribution 7 Formulas

This is part of a short series on the common life data distributions.

The Weibull distribution is both popular and useful. It has some nice features and flexibility that support its popularity. This short article focuses on 7 formulas of the Weibull Distribution.

If you want to know more about fitting a set of data to a distribution, well that is in another article.

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How to Calculate Reliability Given 3 Different Distributions

On occasion, we want to estimate the reliability of an item at a specific time.

Maybe we are considering extending the warranty period, for example, and want to know the probability of no failures over one year instead of over the current 3 months.

Or, let’s say you talked to a bearing vendor and have the Weibull parameters and wish to know the reliability value over 2 years.

Whatever specific situation, you have the life distributions parameters. You just need to calculate reliability at a specific time. We can do that and let’s try it with three distributions using their respective reliability functions: exponential, Weibull, and lognormal. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg 13 Comments

4 Effective Risk Mitigation Strategies

Identifying risk is an important first step. It is not sufficient though.

Taking steps to deal with risk is an essential step. Knowing about and thinking about risk is not the same as doing something about risk.

Risk will occur. Some good, some bad. Some minor, some catastrophic. Your ability to mitigate risk allows you to proactively acknowledge and accommodate risks. Let’s talk about four different strategies to mitigate risk: avoid, accept, reduce/control, or transfer. [Read more…]

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The Check Step of a Risk Management Framework

Planning and Implementing a risk management framework is an admirable accomplishment. Now make sure it is running well and will do so into the future.

As with any process, there will be opportunities to make improvements. By monitoring and reviewing your program you will find what is working well and what is not. [Read more…]

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Reliability and Implementing a Risk Management Plan

With the advent of ISO 31000 and other ISO standards suggesting organizational risk management practices, your organization may have or soon will implement a risk management plan. Reliability of your products, systems, or assets is an element of the organization’s risk profile.

As reliability professionals, your knowledge and skills are a natural fit within any risk management plan. You may focus exclusively on the reliability performance-related risks You may find the skills and tools to identify and mitigate risks play an important role beyond just reliability performance.

Large and small organizations face risks. The lines of communication differ as do the context, culture, and management practices between any two organization. The implementation of a risk management plan has to fit your organization.

Here are few general guidelines and practical considerations when implementing your organization’s risk management plan. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg 2 Comments

The Difference Between Risk Management and Enterprise Risk Management

The uncertainty concerning the future performance of a product or system is a risk to the customer and supplying organization. A product that fails too often or in an unsafe manner may require repair, replacement, or a recall.

A product’s performance including its reliability performance reflects on the organization that designs, builds, and sells the product. A poor reliability performance is no longer a risk to that individual product, rather it is a risk to the product line and organization as well.

Reliability professionals have long been involved with identifying and mitigating risks. The increased emphasis on enterprise risk management through standards such as ISO 31000 require reliability professionals to consider the larger risk management framework and how reliability related risks fit within the larger context. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg 2 Comments

4 Considerations When Designing A Risk Management Program

The risk management framework in ISO 31000 provides a flexible approach to create the right program for your organization. The document doesn’t provide advice or wisdom, so you have to supply that yourself.

The details of the risk management program or specific framework in your organization includes policies, procedures, analysis, and reporting, yet it also has to work within the context of your organization.

Based on the work of Greg Hutchins in ISO 31000: Enterprise Risk Management here are four considerations to supplement your wisdom as you design and implement your program. [Read more…]

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Implementing the Right Preventative Action

There are two instances when you should implement preventative action. First, once a failure occurs and you would like to avoid similar future failures. Second, before a failure occurs, yet an undesired failure mechanism is likely to occur.

Like corrective action there is a wide range of possible preventative actions. The selection of the right actions requires considering customer expectations, business and legal factors, along with the technical and economic feasibility. [Read more…]

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Mandate and Commitment to Manage Risk

Risk Exists; Therefore, Manage Risk

Every organization, business, and individual faces a relentless barrage of risk. Some risks are minor, while others may overwhelm.

We all deal with risk, manage risk, in our own way. For more than just yourself the management of risk is taking on a new level of organization and importance.

Risk exists whether or not we choose to plan, prepare, and mitigate.

The decisions concerning product reliability, and associated risks, require senior management (including the board of directors) engagement and commitment. While there is a wide array of business and societal risks the management team must address, the reliability performance of products and systems presents potentially catastrophic risks to any organization. [Read more…]