Life data analysis using the competing failure modes technique

As demand for highly reliable complex systems increases, engineers are being forced to consider the risk implications of design decisions earlier in the conceptual phase of projects and with greater accuracy. Standard probabilistic risk assessments (PRA) usually employed to verify that a product meets requirements are too resource intensive and too slow to keep up with the speed at which the design is maturing; while classical qualitative methods do not provide the level of detail and granularity required by the designers to make high-quality risk informed decisions. Every company is dependent on some type of asset that keeps the business in business - be it a computer, a centrifuge or a megawatt transformer. In a large enterprise, reducing costs related to asset maintenance, repair and ultimate replacement is at the top of management concerns [1]. Downtime in any network, manufacturing or computer system ultimately results not only in high repair costs, but in customer dissatisfaction and lower potential sales. In response to these concerns, this paper presents a methodology for using Life Data Analysis (LDA) techniques for evaluating new product innovation and projecting product performance due to several failure modes. The paper presents an application for a brake design where the technique was used in determining the right failure mode based on failure mechanisms.