Can reliability mean a life-time operation without a failure?

The increased use of complex and application specific integrated circuits has led to a dramatic reduction in component count, with a substantial improvement in reliability. It is suggested that knowledge exists to improve the design and manufacturing process to make zero defects a realistic target. Software correction techniques for measurement and calibration have played an important role in improving both reliability and performance. Future innovations will be directed towards producing smart instruments which automatically prevent misuse and eliminate avoidable errors