ABSTRACT
Reliability is the ability of a product to perform as intended for a specified life cycle. The life cycle usage information describes the storage, handling, and operating stress profiles and thus contains the necessary load input information for failure assessment and the development of design guidelines, screens, and tests. Failure mechanisms are the physical processes by which stresses can damage the materials included in the product. The tasks impact electronic hardware reliability through the selection of materials, structural geometries, design tolerances, manufacturing processes and tolerances, assembly techniques, shipping and handling methods, and maintenance and maintainability guidelines. In the design stage of product development, reliability analysis involves methods to enhance performance over time through the selection of materials, design of structures, choice of design tolerance, manufacturing processes and tolerances, assembly techniques, shipping and handling methods, and maintenance and maintainability guidelines.
