Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
A listing in reverse chronological order of articles by:
The concept of mindset has been around a long time. New findings from Carol Dweck take this to a new level (her book of the same title is amazing). How does it impact us with leading teams? Having and developing a Growth Mindset is essential. The impacts can be far-reaching. [Read more…]
Some will argue that chemical mixtures must use the dependent mixture matrices at all times. Others suggest that a factorial approach using ratios can accomplish the same objective with more flexibility. I have had success with the factorial approach in several situations, with several technologies. [Read more…]
In Experimental Design, users will at times suggest use of a 2×2 matrix. This is not a practical approach for all but the rarest of occasions. Worse yet, some will teach the 2×2 matrix because it is simple. This misleads users that it is a reasonable option. This video explains the reasons why this design should never be used during phase 1 testing. [Read more…]
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”
Winston Churchill
The Oxford English dictionary defines “strategy” as “a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.”
Reference the article Understanding FMEA Severity Risk – Part 1 which discusses how Severity is defined and applied in FMEA.
When using tools such as DOE and Monte Carlo analysis, it is important to understand the capabilities of the input variables. This can lead to robust design. However, many do not ask the right questions and are surprised with less than desired performance. [Read more…]
Model Building is a key theme for several advanced techniques. It boils down to creating an equation. Done well, one can predict and forecast how things will behave. Creating understanding reduces product risk and increases the chances for success. [Read more…]
New Product Development is constantly under pressure to get projects done faster – to shorten the development schedule. Making the analogy from basketball to engineering projects, if you want to play fast – you are going to have to live with turn overs. Similarly with engineering, you are going to experience some bumps in the road when trying to create a speed record. [Read more…]
Six Sigma has been a business improvement idea for several years now. Debate has existed for some time if the concepts apply to Research and Development. This video breaks down the debate into simple terms. The answer – yes, but not always. Find out why! [Read more…]
FMEAs take time and cost money. They should be done when a certain level of risk can be effectively addressed by the FMEA procedure. Preliminary Risk Assessment is a procedure that uses company-determined criteria to select which FMEAs to do.
“The key is to schedule your priorities.” ― Steven Covey
Transformations are useful techniques. Why and how would you use them? The selection process is important, as a well justified choice improves decision making and communication. [Read more…]
Reliability is a process. If the right process is followed, results can be great such as eliminating most of the warranty costs. The opposite is also true in the absence of the right process. There is a saying: “If we don’t know where we are going, that’s where we will go.” It is difficult enough to do the right things, but it is even more difficult to know
what the right things are!
Knowledge of the right things comes from practicing the use of lessons learned. One must utilize the accumulated knowledge for arriving at correct decisions. Theory is not enough. One must keep becoming better by practicing. Take the example of swimming. One cannot learn to swim from books alone; one must practice swimming. It is okay to fail as long as mistakes are the stepping stones to failure prevention. Thomas Edison was reminded that he failed 2000 times before the success of the light bulb. His answer, “I never failed. There were 2000 steps in this process.” We can use the following lessons learned. [Read more…]
Our training provides experience with practical application, including team building and economic considerations. This testimony captures those experiences. Would you benefit from this training approach? [Read more…]
Early in engineering, it seemed the purpose was to create products that made life easier. But eventually, I started to wonder – does that make life better? This video discusses that contradiction. [Read more…]
There is no more important task in an FMEA than correctly identifying the “Cause.” Finding the root cause is the heart and soul of FMEA procedure. When you have the right cause, it opens the door to solutions. When you have the wrong cause, nothing gets accomplished.
By continuing to ask “why,” the team will be able to discover the progression of cause-and-effect relationships behind a problem and the root cause that is below the surface.
Wisdom begins in wonder – Socrates
People claim a trend in selfish people. But what is selfish? In work and in basketball? The answer may catch you off guard! But it has proven to be true. [Read more…]