ABSTRACT
Reliability is the ability of a device or system to perform a required function for a specified amount of time. The function and level of reliability required of a device are obviously application specific. A sensor vital to an aircraft flight control system whose failure can mean loss of life is an example of a high-reliability application. Alternatively, a switch in a piece of commercial electronics may fail and be an annoyance, but it is hardly a tragedy. Since World War II, reliability techniques have been widely applied to military and commercial devices and systems; this has led to the development of the field of reliability. Examples of the reliability literature can be found in the journals listed in Table 10.1.
