ABSTRACT
Reliability is a key concern for all products. Reliability has informally been referred to as both “failure avoidance” and “quality over time.” A field reliability problem is one that results in the product failing to perform its intended function, as experienced by the customer, over time. Building high reliability into the design of products is receiving increasing recognition. In this chapter, we describe the critical role of statistics in reliability assurance and discuss the unique challenges associated with defining, measuring, and improving reliability. The role of statistics in reliability assurance has evolved from fire-fighting to validation testing to actively contributing to proactive reliability improvement. In order to address the challenge of assuring (and demonstrating) high reliability, modern programs for new product introduction include the collection and analysis of reliability data from laboratory tests of materials, devices, and components; tests on early prototype units; careful monitoring of early-production units in the field; analysis of warranty data; and systematic longer-term tracking of product in the field.
We set the stage for the remainder of the book by discussing the role of statistics in reliability assurance through the product cycle from early stages of design to manufacturing and field use.
