Aeng417 - Notes

Introduction to Maintenance & Reliability Engineering
(Development and Definition)
Definition of “Reliability”
- Probability: The likelihood of mission success.

- Intended Function: For example; to light, to cut, rotate, or fly.
- Satisfactory: Perform according to a specification with an acceptable degree of
compliance.
- Specific Period of Time: Minutes, Days, Hours, Seconds, or Number of Cycles.
- Specified Conditions: Temperature, Speed, or Velocity.
Components of Reliability:
- “Ability of an item to perform a required function under given conditions for a given time
interval.” (IEC, 60050)
- “The probability that an item will perform a required function without failure under stated
conditions for a stated period of time.” (Smith, D.J., 2005)
- Reliability is defined as the probability that a product, system, or service will perform its
intended function adequately for a specified period of time, or will operate in a defined
environment without failure.
- It can also be expressed as the number of failures over a period.
- A time dependent characteristic.
- Failure, Time, and Probability
Development of Maintenance & Reliability Engineering
First Generation Maintenance (Pre-WWII)
• Industry was not highly mechanized, so downtimes not important.

• Equipment is either simple or over-designed.
o Reliable and Easy to repair.
o Eventually just wore out.
• Only systematic maintenance required. (e.g., Simple Cleaning, Servicing, and Lubricating)
• Philosophy: “Fix it when it Breaks!”
Second Generation Maintenance (WWII to Mid-70’s)
• More mechanization and concern over downtime.

• Idea that failures should and should be prevented.
• Awareness of “Burn In” Failure Curve
Bath-tub Curve:
• Increase in maintenance costs as a proportion of total operating costs.

o Development of first planning and scheduling tools.
• Philosophy: Preventative Overhauls
Third Generation Maintenance (Mid-70’s and ABOVE)
• Aircraft Data identified 6 different failure mode patterns.

• Growth of mechanization and automation increases focus on plant availability and
reliability.
• Effect of failures on Health, Safety, and Environment (HS&E) becomes important as
regulations tighten.
• Cost of maintenance increases: Often 1 st of 2nd highest of all operating costs.
• New techniques become available to collect data that would enable maintainers to:
o Predictive Maintenance – Predict failures
o Asset Management – Optimize maintenance decisions
How Reliability is measured?
o The probability of an item that does not fall at time interval (0, t), survival probability.
o Besides being measured as a probability, reliability can be quantified via the following
parameters or metrics:
o Failure Rate - Mean number of failures in a given time.
o Meant Time Between Failures (MTBF) – The average time between successive
failures.
o Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) – The average time that elapses until a failure
occurs.
Objective of Reliability Engineering:
o To apply engineering knowledge and specialist techniques to prevent or reduce the

likelihood or frequency of failure.
o To identify and correct the causes of failures that do occur, despite the efforts to prevent
them.
o To determine ways of coping with failures that do occur, if their causes has not been
corrected.
o To apply methods for estimating the likely reliability of new design, and for analyzing
reliability data.
Theory and Basic Concepts
- Qualitative Reliability (FTA, FMEA, FMECA)

- Quantitative Reliability (Statistical Reliability, Physics-based Reliability)
- Maintenance (Time-based maintenance, Condition-based maintenance)
Role of Mechanic:
- Makes routine inspections, document inspections, and repairs.

- Performs scheduled maintenance.
- Runs tests after making repairs or performing maintenance.
Role of an Engineer (Design):
- Develops new technological solutions.

o Includes defining problems
o Conducting and narrowing research
o Analyzing criteria
o Finding and analyzing solutions and making decisions.
Role of an Engineer (Analysis):
- Supervise production in factories and elsewhere.

- Determine the causes of process failure.
- Test output to maintain quality.
- Estimate the time and cost required to complete projects.

Aeng417 - Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aeng417 - Notes

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aeng417 - Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to Maintenance & Reliability Engineering

(Development and Definition)

- Probability: The likelihood of mission success.

First Generation Maintenance (Pre-WWII)

• Industry was not highly mechanized, so downtimes not important.

Second Generation Maintenance (WWII to Mid-70’s)

• More mechanization and concern over downtime.

• Increase in maintenance costs as a proportion of total operating costs.

Third Generation Maintenance (Mid-70’s and ABOVE)

• Aircraft Data identified 6 different failure mode patterns.

How Reliability is measured?

Objective of Reliability Engineering:

o To apply engineering knowledge and specialist techniques to prevent or reduce the

Theory and Basic Concepts

- Qualitative Reliability (FTA, FMEA, FMECA)

- Makes routine inspections, document inspections, and repairs.

Role of an Engineer (Design):

- Develops new technological solutions.

Role of an Engineer (Analysis):

- Supervise production in factories and elsewhere.

You might also like