Validation of technical systems aims at demonstration of reliability for warranty or even for product lifetime. These targets require a huge amount of testing to be performed over a long period. Multiple degradation modes must be represented by a proper set of durability test conditions. As product families are co-developed for various applications and markets a set of targets has to be achieved simultaneously.
The relevant questions are: what is the minimum set of tests, which sequence is the most efficient and how large is the total test volume necessary for target achievement?
A rising number of variants in product families drives the amount of testing for reliability demonstration to unrealistic orders of magnitude in terms of budget and time. Transfer of test results across variants is justified only under certain conditions for certain failure modes. Therefore it is possible to achieve a high quality of validation through proper consideration of parts commonality, and hence a targeted reduction in test volumes.
As a matter of fact the actual failure rate of products is much lower than it could be according to the demonstrated reliability. However, this general observation helps only if the actually required amount of demonstration can be derived in view of future customer operation.
Uptime Engineering supports in establishing a reliability process to derive demonstration tasks from reliability targets. The methods used for this purpose are strictly quantitative to deliver a sound basis for planning and control of validation activities.
A reliability process accompanying the product development delivers the minimum amount of tests for achievement of the necessary reliability demonstration. In particular for product families, this can be of huge economic advantage.
The strictly quantitative nature of the applied methods results in practical, comprehensive recommendations and leads to the best possible allocation of resources.
Uptime LOCATE™ is used as the software platform for the reliability process. Thus a single source of data and information is established. It provided a reference for reliability risks and methods. Models and results can be re-used, e.g. additional future usage cases or applications of a product are easily assessed.
Uptime Engineering supports the implementation of reliability related processes in your organisation through the provision of software and technical consulting.