Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
Greg and Fred discuss the risks of persisting in a project or in life when you know there are risks. In poker terms, “do you hold em’ or fold em’? What do companies do when they’ve sunk a lot of costs and know the ROI of their project is vaporizing? What do you do when you know you’re losing. Fight on. Or, walk away. The risks of persistence is what we face all the time.
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Greg and Fred discuss the future of quality and reliability professions. The average age of the quality professional is getting older. Fewer people are entering the profession. So, where is the profession going?
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Join Steven Giako and Dianna Deeney in a panel discussion of central themes in the books Brilliant! Shuji Nakamura And the Revolution in Lighting Technology and How to Win Friends and Influence People.
How do these two books relate with one another, and what lessons can be learned by combining and contrasting their messages? How can the story in Brilliant! relate to the advice given in How to Win Friends and Influence People? What are potential lessons learned for engineers today who are leading in the edges of innovation?
The reviewers explore these two books together by combining common themes for discussion points and add their own experiences from their engineering careers. Their goals are to link literature to current-day challenges and for participants to:
Chris and Fred discuss the ability to get ‘data sets’ to practice reliability analysis on! … sounds like a party …
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Kirk and Fred and a long-time listener, Nik Sharpe, discuss the long history of doing this podcast from the first Speaking of Reliability podcast SOR #1, “Can you pass HALT?” recorded June 20th, 2015, to this 1000th episode.
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Goals, objectives, milestones, targets, whatever you call them, just have a clear one. Setting a reliability goal is easy. Get a few people together for a short discussion and in less then 10 minutes you can craft a meaningful reliability goal.
Let’s explore the elements that make up a reliability goal. Plus, the range of inputs you can use to define each element. Plus, some best practices when establishing goals.
Finally, simply setting a goal adds value to your organization – if it is a complete and practical goal. Estimating or measuring that value can be tricky, so let’s discuss a few ways you may quantify the value of a goal.
Two episodes ago, episode 149, we talked all about automated optical inspection. Today we’re exploring the impact of less automated inspection Technology, that being optical microscopes.
From commercial, class 1 electronics to high reliability class 3 electronics, the intricate electronic devices we rely on daily are assembled with astonishing precision. This precision wouldn’t be possible without the aid of advanced optical microscopes. These remarkable instruments allow technicians and engineers to inspect, analyze, and ensure the quality of electronic components down to the minutest detail.
In this episode, we’ll uncover how optical microscopes have impacted electronic assembly, enhancing productivity, ensuring reliability, and driving innovation.
Chris and Fred discuss how long stuff lasts! … or how long something should last! … how do you ‘know’ what it should be?
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Chris and Fred discuss how reliability can sometimes be linked to politics (… at least in some way). Is this an experience you share?
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Can the way you present technical information drastically impact decision-making? Absolutely. In our latest podcast episode, we explore transformative methods that can elevate your technical presentations to a whole new level. Instead of relying on lifeless bullet points, the assertion evidence model encourages you to make clear recommendations at the top of each slide, coupled with compelling graphical evidence. We also delve into the six P’s—Perspective, Problem, Principle, Proposal, Proof, and Process—that serve as the backbone for structuring your presentation. These elements not only enhance learning but also facilitate more informed and productive discussions within your team.
If the thought of presenting to your team makes you anxious, we’ve got you covered. We’ll share practical advice to boost your confidence and help you deliver your findings more effectively. By focusing on the value of your insights and using the six P’s framework, you’ll be well-equipped to engage your audience and convey crucial information. As we approach a busy season of deadlines and presentations, challenge yourself to adopt these methods for the benefit of your team.
Chris and Fred discuss how to make a good impression when interviewing for a reliability engineering position. How do you prepare?
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Carl and Fred discuss a reader question about FMEA and Hazard Analysis and whether or not they can be combined into a single analysis.
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What is a ‘root cause’ of failure? It is something that you did (or didn’t) do that ultimately resulted in failure. It’s not corrosion (that’s a physical process that follows the laws of nature that you can’t change). It’s not a porous seal that allows moisture to enter your product to cause corrosion (that’s a defect or fault that you or your team made happen). Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is the process where we systematically work out what things we did or didn’t do that allowed failure to occur, and Fault Trees are often very helpful in finding this root causes. If you want to learn more about RCA or how fault trees can help RCA, join us for this webinar.
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Statistics, at its core, is the science of making sense of data. From predicting trends and making informed decisions to ensuring quality control and optimizing processes, the applications of statistics are vast and varied. In the electronic assembly industry, where precision and reliability are paramount, statistical techniques become indispensable tools for engineers, manufacturers, and quality assurance professionals alike.
Join us as we unravel the complex yet captivating connections between statistics and the truth. We’ll delve into real-world case studies, and uncover the statistical principles that ensure the decisions we make every day are based on facts, accurate data, and accurate statistics.
In today’s episode, we’re also going to tackle some common myths associated with statistics and shed light on how misinterpretation of data can lead to false conclusions. Many people think of statistics as infallible, a definitive answer to every question posed by data. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Statistics is a powerful tool, but its effectiveness hinges on proper application and interpretation.
We’ll discuss myths such as “Correlation equals causation,” where the mere relationship between two variables is often mistaken for one causing the other. We’ll also address the misconception that a larger sample size always guarantees accurate results, and how ignoring the context or the source of data can lead to misleading outcomes.
Moreover, we’ll explore real-world examples where statistical missteps have led to costly errors and how these pitfalls can be avoided through rigorous analysis and critical thinking. By understanding these common misconceptions and learning how to approach data critically, you’ll be better equipped to harness the true power of statistics.
Carl and Fred discuss the challenges of hidden reliability problems, especially issues that are certain to occur, but not easily observed. When failures are invisible or hidden, they can be missed or ignored.
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