Question 1
Reliability is a concept that focuses on the ability of a product to perform its functions according to specifications as well as in a consistent manner (Ebeling 32). It is related to unexpected failures of services or products as well as understanding the factors that contribute to such failures. The reliability of a system, service, or an item is the probability that it will perform the specified functions under certain environmental and operational conditions over a specified time. In most instances, reliability interfaces with quality, safety, supportability, test, cost, and design (Stapelberg 43). Reliability analysis is vital for understanding the mechanisms of component failure and failures in integrated systems as well as the identification of reliability, critical process, and design drivers.
Theoretically, a reliable product is completely free of flaws (Ebeling 38). From a practical perspective, vendors often express the reliability of a product in regards to percentages. Reliability is vital to product safety and performance, and it has both qualitative and quantitative aspects (Stapelberg 54). From a quantitative perspective, reliability is associated with the probability of success. In this case, reliability measurements are essential for complying with customers’ requirements.
Failure diagnosis and fault tolerance are some aspects associated with reliability. A fault occurs when a product, item, or system malfunctions or deviates from the expected behaviour while tolerance refers to their capacity to endure (Stapelberg 50). Research indicates that failures can be caused by variation, wear-out, wrong specifications, or misuse of an item. Nevertheless, fault resistant systems can be built through replication and redundancy. Some of the factors that affect reliability include the system’s design, components, and parts used. According to Stapelberg, the reliability of product service or system can be increased by using components of high-quality, employing practical quality control procedures, and using worst-case design methods (50).
Question 2
Reliability, quality, safety, and productivity are some of the pillars of any manufacturing activity or professional service (Ebeling40). Quality is ensured by identifying customer requirements, designing processes, and assigning resources that ensure that the customers’ expectations and requirements are met. Measuring a product’s reliability does not make it reliable. The reliability objectives of a product can only be achieved through appropriate designing. Reliability can be ensured through various planned activities that include informal or formal systems management, which work effectively together towards preventing system-function loss and malfunctions.
Maintainability refers to the ability of a product, item, service, or system under particular use conditions to be restored to or retained in a state that enables it to function properly, especially when maintenance activities are carried out using specified resources, prescribed procedures (Peterson 89). The concept of maintainability interfaces with reliability, design, supportability, logistic support, and maintenance planning (Peterson 90). Ideally, ensuring good reliability involves identifying and eliminating causes of failure. Reliability has implications on safety, cost, competitiveness, reputation and efficiency of the supply chain. The concept of reliability serves as a design parameter that creators or developers must incorporate in a system during the design stage (Stapelberg 66). This makes reliability become an inherent aspect of the system just like performance or capacity.
Safety is concerned with the identification of hazards, their cause, and potential effects (Ebeling 93). Ensuring safety involves estimating and evaluating risks while establishing appropriate actions for avoidance, prevention, and reduction of the probability of risk occurrence. An organization should put in place appropriate contingency measures for mitigating damages and losses whenever risks occur. Safety and quality are attributes of reliability that should be integrated into the management of systems. Reliability is linked to concerns regarding whether an item or product is capable of surviving a specified time, during which no failure will be experienced.
Question 3
The suppliers to the process are the people or entities that are concerned with supplying the inputs. A supplier may provide all the inputs or specific proportion. Suppliers may include a company that supplies the inputs and the IT department that provides information (Ebeling76). The supply expects to work with an organization whose systems are dependable because unreliability may result in loss of suppliers.
Inputs encompass the things that are used in the process. In many cases, inputs are tangible things, and they include materials, machines, people, information, IT systems, or other things that are essential for running the process. Inputs should be identified through a process that involves reviewing the various steps of the processes to determine the input that is required for the successful completion of each step. Stapelberg suggests that the quality of inputs affects the quality of the outputs (122).
The process encompasses activities that are performed with the primary objective of converting inputs into outputs. Understanding the process and subprocesses involved in the system is essential for ensuring the reliability of a product (Ebeling 109). Ideally, it starts with listing the key steps involved in the process and determining the products of each of the process’ steps. The scope of the process should be clear and represented accurately. When planning to engage in improvement activity or commence process management, it is important to understand the process’ scope. The outputs encompass the products or outcomes of the process. The outputs of the process are the things that are sold to consumers. Accordingly, it is important to produce reliable goods and services of high quality to attract and retain consumers. Customers are entities or people receiving outputs of the processes (Ebeling 77). Quality and reliable products help in the process of attracting and retaining customers. Customers are not limited to the people who eventually receive or use the service or product, but they include the recipients of each of the process’ outputs.
Question 4
A reliability manual is a critical tool that is used to describe the way an organization approaches reliability. While many organizations always have a quality manual in the form of an ISO 9000 certification, the reliability aspect may be integrated into the same document or it can form a section of the quality manual (Stapelberg 105). A reliability manual may encompass information such as specific procedures, reporting structures, and specific standards.
A reliability policy is a brief document that is developed by senior management that outlines the strategic approach that an organization intends to use to achieve its reliability objectives (Ebeling 87). For example, the Honda Accord Reliability Manual encompasses a policy that outlines the connection between warranty, product reliability, and customer satisfaction. Reliability procedures are part of the manual that outline how a reliability goal will be achieved (Stapelberg 112). The Honda Accord Manual explains the steps taken to ensure the reliability of the model. For example, brake issues reliability focuses on the brakes of Honda products. Honda’s quality cycles are initiatives that are based on both development and design expertise. Honda ensures quality through its stringent production processes.
The specifications and standards encompass a list of application specifications and standards (Ebeling 82). Honda has robust quality assurance rules that are essential for ensuring the reliability and quality of Honda products. The G-HQS (Global Honda Quality Standard) established in 2005 is widely based on the criteria of ISO 9001. The primary objective of the standard is to ensure the quality of Honda products that are produced and sold across the globe. The standards suggest that all Honda production facilities have achieved appropriate ISO certification. The quality assurance process does not stop at the manufacturing level. It extends to ensuring quality in service and distribution.
Works Cited
Ebeling, Charles. An Introduction to Reliability and Maintainability Engineering. Stanford: Stanford University, 2009. Print
Peterson, Elmer. Maintainability: A Key to Effective Serviceability and Maintenance Management. New York: Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.
Stapelberg, Rudolph. Handbook of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety in Engineering Design. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print.
