Historical efforts on R&M integration into engineering curricula

The author describes what the US Air Force has done to achieve improved R&M (reliability and maintainability). The Air Force has been vitally interested in all graduate engineers becoming knowledgeable of R&M so they will be able to readily include R&M in their designs. It is pointed out that R&M must be designed into new systems as they evolve through the complete design process, and not be attempted as an extra addition or afterthought. Only by having the designer be proficient in the principles and tools of R&M can the final design be successful. The only way for all the designers to have the knowledge of R&M is to include R&M in the design courses within the academic environment. It is noted that the time is here for R&M education to be included in every engineer´s education. This does not imply that the education must be increased, or that some items must be eliminated to make room for the R&M principles in design. What is implied is that the measurement of the design is not adequate until the success of the design (R&M) is determined