Methods and Procedures for Computer Based Handling of Components Reliability Data at FTL (The Swedish Military Electronics Laboratory)

In order to turn reliability prediction into a readily available tool, a system for computerized handling of failure rates was developed at FTL. This system, which is named RPP-1 (Reliability Program One) is presently covering data of electronic and electromechanical components. From a given list of components and data on stresses and working conditions, the failure rates are automatically searched, processed, and pooled in an assessment for an equipment. To make this possible, a number of decisions and judgements had to be taken regarding codes, formulas, models, bank structure, application factors, etc. This paper gives a summary of the FTL solutions for those basic questions. The system¿actually a system of subprograms¿has been developed at the Swedish Military Electronics Laboratory. The project was headed by the the author of this paper.