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.

Key Points

Join Chris and Adam as they discuss how the history of humankind tends to revolve around largely ‘engineering’ events. Whether it be the iron age, bronze age, invention of the printing press or the Industrial Revolution, today’s society is largely based on huge engineering advances. And reliability engineering is a key element of each one of these leaps. You think differently about a steel axe head if it is something your son and grandson can use. You also need to make sure that you don’t design in too much margin into a system so that it stops being cost-effective – if that system will be superseded relatively quickly. In fact, you can’t talk about the history of mankind (let alone the history of engineering) without talking about reliability.

Topics include:

• How having tools and basic instruments that lasted so long that they were passed on from generation to generation meant we started to think about how to make these ‘things’ relevant over a long period of time.
• How becoming more informed on the physical and material properties of systems and devices actually allow us avoid ‘over-engineering’ … saving substantial resources when we do.
• How different cultures and normative behaviors shape our historical attitudes towards reliability.
• And finally, how all these things tangibly define what reliability engineering is today.

Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques, to field data analysis approaches.

SOR 373 A Brief History of ReliabilityChristopher Jackson

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Show Notes