Overview

The preceding chapters were intended to familiarize the reader with techniques for the successful practice of system reliability engineering and failure prevention. In this last chapter, we draw on these techniques to find solutions to problems that arise in the workplace. A common thread of the examples in this chapter is that there is not a direct correspondence between the stated requirements and the reliability engineer's decision space. Thus some preliminary work is required to really define the problem, giving us a chance to apply more of the knowledge from prior chapters.

In the first example our objective is the reliability design of a power supply for a communications tower. There are availability requirements for the communication services, and from these and details of the other tower components, we establish availability and reliability requirements for the power supply. We examine two alternatives and make a recommendation. Along the way we find that protective devices are needed when power from redundant supplies is combined and we learn how to assess the effect of these devices on system reliability. We also perform a sensitivity analysis to show that the basis for our recommendation is not adversely affected by changes in predicted reliability for a new component.

The second example deals with the electronics bay of an executive jet designed to fly up to 10 hours nonstop. The reliability requirements are stated for the functions of the electronics bay, and we have to translate these to the component level by accounting for...