Improving the Management of Reliability

Abstract

At the present time, the most serious problem in logistics support for the life of a weapon system is the asymmetry of the demonstrated reliability of components and the inventory and maintenance infrastructure necessary to match that reliability. Reliability is the single most dominant life cycle cost driver and is the key enabler of acceptable cost effective operational availability. The greater the time between failures of components, the less we require expensive maintenance, critical test equipment, unique training and high priced inventories as well as other logistics elements. The DoD and the Navy are struggling with the results of the imbalance of poor inherent reliability of components on the one hand, and the consequences of highly exaggerated reliability figures of merit used for life cycle support planning on the other. The DoD and the Navy have not understood the results of a continuing failure to properly acquire, measure, manage and support demonstrated reliability. We simply have too many demands for too few spare parts because of this asymmetry. For the sake of a common reference, let's define reliability. Reliability is comprised of four components: probability, satisfactory performance, time, and specified operating conditions. Taking these four elements together, we define reliability as the probability that a system, component, or part will operate satisfactorily for a specified period of time under specified operating conditions.