TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 9 provided the basic concepts for the economic evaluation of alternative reliability improvements. In this chapter these concepts will be applied to case studies covering a range of applications. Also, while Chapter 9 primarily addressed the needs of the concept phase when little specific design information is available, we will now discuss later life-cycle stages with more data but also more constraints.
In the first two examples we are part of the reliability staff of a communication company that has entered into a quality of service (QoS) agreement with its major customers. Our assignment is to recommend the reliability improvements that will result in the lowest total cost (improvement plus expected penalty).
Our fame has spread and we have accepted a higher paying job at one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers. This time we have been asked to evaluate the best way to reduce maintenance costs.
Finally we are employed by an operator of communications satellites (we really aim high) and have to decide when to launch a replacement satellite. This example involves a combination of reliability and logistic considerations because one of the drivers for replacement is the possible exhaustion of station-keeping fuel on the current satellites.
A company providing Web hosting for a number of large distributors has been pressured by a major customer to enter into a service agreement with the following provisions for the service as a whole (service for individual lines is covered by different rules...
