The R&M 2000 Initiative Air Force R&M Policy Letters

This paper details the first four of a continuing series of policy letters which will generate the impetus for needed R&M improvements in Air Force systems. The first policy letter deals with R&M 2000 Environmental Stress Screening. This article discusses reasons for emphasizing this technique and provides some of the specific guidelines. Policy letter two establishes the requirement for all new systems to have ``twice the reliability´´ and ``one-half the maintainability´´ of the system being replaced. The third R&M policy letter focuses on the requirement for design engineers to design-in system characteristics which allow for ease of maintenance in the often harsh operational environment. The final policy letter details the minimum acceptable reliability of electronic systems. The policy letter sets a mean time between failures of 2000 hours for a line replaceable unit in an airborne fighter environment, the harshest environmental condition. The article closes with a discussion of quality and its importance.