Optimal Allocation of Effort to Improve System Reliability

The optimal allocation of development effort to improve reliability for systems of general, but fixed, structure is discussed from a deterministic standpoint and also when there is uncertainty in component reliabilities at various stages of development. A computational algorithm is given for implementing the optimal allocation, called the optimal policy, and the form of the solution is related to the special case of a series system when development effort functions are the same for all components. This methodology is a useful aid to decision-making about reliability improvements.