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