ABSTRACT
Reliability evaluation is an important activity for ensuring the reliability of engineering products. It normally begins right from the conceptual design stage of products with specified reliability. Over the years, many reliability evaluation methods and techniques have been developed. Some examples of these methods and techniques are fault tree analysis (FTA), failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA), Markov method, network reduction method, and decomposition method. The use of these methods for a particular application depends on various factors including the specified requirement, the type of project under consideration, the specific need, and the inclination of the parties involved. For example, FMEA is often required in aerospace/ defense related projects and FTA in nuclear power generation projects.
