Desk-top computer database technique for integrated R&M analysis

The integration of product assurance engineering into the design process is discussed. A simple desktop approach that uses the design's indented bill of materials as its foundation is presented. The relational database structure presented supports typical reliability and maintainability analysis tasks. The author covers the indented bill of materials; reliability prediction (parts count technique); reliability prediction (stress-analysis technique conforming to MIL-HDBK-217E); failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis; maintainability prediction; and program parts selection list and generation of nonstandard part-approval requests.<>