RS 401 Training Seminar
Reliability and Life Data Analysis

The first session in the MSMT Reliability Foundations training seminar series, the RS 401 training course provides a comprehensive treatment on the subject of life data analysis (including Weibull analysis) as it applies to reliability engineering. ReliaSoft’s Weibull++ software is used for hands-on practical examples. Topics include commonly used product lifetime distributions, reliability metrics and multiple ways the analysis techniques can be applied.

The training course will help you to understand when life data analysis methodologies are appropriate and how they can be applied when you need to understand and communicate how a product will perform over time, such as:

• Setting meaningful reliability targets, demonstrating whether an item meets the specification and/or effectively communicating performance estimates to management.
• Identifying whether an item will experience infant mortality and/or wearout and making predictions about performance during the useful life (or warranty) period.
• Evaluating suppliers and/or comparing designs based on reliability.

Training Course Outline

Principles and Theory

This course begins with an introduction to and overview of the fundamentals of life data analysis, including basic concepts and methodologies as they apply to reliability engineering. The theory, assumptions, mathematics and statistics necessary to apply the concepts and methodologies of reliability engineering and life data analysis are covered. Topics include:

Introduction to Reliability Engineering and Life Data Analysis

• What it is and how it is applied

Statistical Theory Background, and Applications

• Basic definitions and concepts
• The most commonly used distributions for product life and their applications
  • 1, 2 and 3-parameter Weibull, mixed Weibull, 1 and 2-parameter exponential, lognormal, normal, generalized gamma
• The most applicable distribution for your data
• Product life data types, presented and defined
  • Complete data, right censored/suspended data, left censored data, interval censored data, grouped data
• Parameter estimation methods and theory
  • Probability plotting, rank regression analysis, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)
• Confidence bounds determination
  • Fisher matrix, likelihood ratio and beta-binomial bounds

Applying Life Data Analysis

• Tracking a product's reliability and guiding corrective actions through the use of field data
• Predicting number of returns/failures
• Reliability specifications
• Optimum replacement time determination
• Spare parts determination
• Reliability goals, setting and meeting them
• Supplier reliability issues
• Failure behavior assessment and failure mode detection
• Warranty time determination
• Cost projections for in-warranty failures
• Analysis of different failure modes
• Reliability bathtub curves
• Probabilistic design using stress-strength interference
• Examining repairable systems
• Comparing designs, suppliers and data sets

Other Life Data Analysis Tools

• Reliability test design
• Warranty analysis
• Degradation analysis

Software and Applications

The course continues with an introduction to and familiarization with ReliaSoft's Weibull++ software. As the session progresses, you will be introduced to the intermediate and advanced applications of Weibull++ and apply the methods and theory covered in the course. Topics include:

Weibull++, the Basics

• Overview of Weibull++
• Entering different data types using all possible censoring schemes
• Available statistical distributions
• Available analysis methods
• Creating and using probability plots
• Interpreting the plots
• Using likelihood theory
• Creating likelihood function 3D plots
• Looking at other plots, pdf, failure rate, bathtub curves, etc.
• Determining burn-in times
• Using confidence bounds
• Annotating and customizing the plots and graphs
• Using ReliaSoft Draw to create outstanding graphics
• Using multiple data sheets in one folio
• Plotting multiple data sets
• Using the Auto Group feature
• Obtaining results using the Quick Calculation Pad
• Goodness-of-fit tests
• Using ReliaSoft’s Distribution Wizard
• Printing and formatting
• Monte Carlo data simulation
• Mixed Weibull analysis
• Competing Failure Mode analysis

Weibull++, Intermediate Topics

• Import data from multiple sources
• Using the Auto Run feature to automate analysis
• Batch processing
• Altering and/or fixing parameters
• Automatically truncating data points
• ReliaSoft’s Function Wizard and its functions
• Using ReliaSoft’s Design of Reliability Tests
• Using tests of comparison
• Using stress-strength analysis
• Customizing Weibull++
• Using the Quick Statistical Reference
• Performing degradation analysis
• Performing warranty analysis

Weibull++, Advanced Topics

• Cross-linking data and results
• Performing advanced analyses
• The General Spreadsheet interface and other graphs
• Using Weibull++ for system reliability

Hands-on Workshop

The session concludes with a full day of hands-on training using Weibull++. You will also be provided with an evaluation copy of Weibull++.

This hands-on workshop will be based on ReliaSoft's Weibull++ Training Guide. The training guide is specifically designed to guide you step-by-step from simple to advanced concepts, allowing you to proceed at your own pace.

Questions will be solicited throughout the workshop. ReliaSoft's engineering and software design staff will be available to provide personalized help during this session. In addition, you will have the opportunity to apply reliability engineering concepts and methodologies to realistic problems and situations using Weibull++.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets and specific problems for analysis and experimentation during this session.