ABSTRACT
Reliability may be described simply as the probability that an item or system will perform its mission satisfactorily for the desired period when used according to designed conditions. The history of the reliability field may be traced back to the early 1930s, when probability-related concepts were applied to various problems associated with electric power generation [1–4]. During World War II, Germans applied various basic reliability concepts to improve reliability of their rockets (i.e., V1 and V2 rockets). A detailed history of the reliability field is available in Dhillon [5]. Today, reliability is a well-established discipline and has branched out into many specialized areas [5,6].
