Reliability Data Analysis with Excel and Minitab

Kenneth S. Stephens

• Publisher: ASQ Quality Press
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780873898317
• eBook ISBN: 9781636940458
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Quality Control in Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Many reliability engineers are gainfully employed in considerations of the physical nature of components and systems-bringing to bear theories and methodologies of physics, electronics, mechanics, material science, chemistry, and so on. But when a product has been designed and manufactured, its performance in terms of durability, strength, and life become a matter of test, measurement, and analysis.Statistical theories and methodologies provide a large number of analytical tools to assist the reliability engineer in studying the performance of products and the fruits of the physical considerations, even revealing further improvements that can be made in the physical properties. Hence, reliability is a multidisciplined field of endeavor. Statistical theories and methodologies allow estimation of important characteristics as well as levels of confidence or assurance (or lack thereof) with respect to the estimations. They also provide direction in actions necessary to improve estimates and confidence levels if results are too variable to render important decisions.Some derivations are contained in this text, but the approach here is meant to be more practical, in following each topic introduced and expanded with examples. On each topic covered, reasonably practical examples are used to illustrate and demonstrate the procedures introduced and discussed. For all of these examples either Excel files or Minitab files or both have been prepared (available from Quality Press). They can be readily accessed and opened directly in their respective software packages to permit the preparation of new files specifically for use by the reader."This book provides a much-needed theoretical text to aid advanced reliability engineering data analysis. Applications using Excel and Minitab support a broad span of probability applications for reliability data analysts. I most strongly recommend this book for seasoned Six Sigma Black Belts or statisticians who must support Design for Six Sigma applications for new product development projects. It's rich in food for thought as well as providing a most nourishing banquet for consumption by engineers --- it is not for light reading as a snack, but it must be consumed as a seven-course meal!" Gregory H. WatsonChairman, International Academy for QualityASQ Past-President and Fellow

Table of contents

• Title page
• Copyright page
• Chapter 1 Introduction to Reliability and the Text
• Chapter 2 Basic Generic Reliability Relationships
• Chapter 3 Some Useful Discrete Distributions for Reliability Analysis
• Chapter 4 Point and Interval Estimation for Discrete Distributions
• Chapter 5 Linear Rectification of Reliability Models For Least Squares Estimation of Parameters
• Chapter 6 Exponential, Gamma, and Chi-Square (χ2) Distributions
• Chapter 7 Weibull and Extreme-Value Distributions
• Chapter 8 Normal and Lognormal Distributions
• Chapter 9 Logistic and Log-Logistic Distributions
• Chapter 10 Systems Reliability
• Chapter 11 Reliability of Repairable Systems
• Chapter 12 Reliability Determination via Accelerated Life Testing
• References