J. Cartwright (Honeywell), T. Stadterman (Army AMSAA)

M. Jackson, Zhenya Huang

Accurately predicting the reliability of electronic systems is becoming more important in the competitive environment because customers demand longer, more comprehensive warranties and express increasing concerns with life cycle cost.

The U.S. Army Material Systems Acquisition Activity (AMSAA) and CALCE EPSC began working with the IEEE Reliability Society to develop an IEEE Reliability Prediction Standard. The Reliability Prediction Working Group is a multidisciplinary body consisting of participants from various commercial and government agencies, both domestic and foreign. Written approval for the Project Authorization Request (PAR) from the New Standards Committee (NesCom) of the Standards Board at the IEEE Headquarters was obtained on December 13, 1994. The Reliability Prediction Working Group consulted with the IEEE Standards Review Committee (RevCom) on developing and formatting the draft. In addition, the Working Group interacted with the Electronic Industries Association, the Society of Automotive Engineers, American Society for Quality Control and the Institute for Environmental Sciences.

An IEEE reliability prediction standard was developed so that a prediction made according to the standard includes sufficient information concerning inputs, assumptions and uncertainties that the risks associated with using the prediction are understood. The standard identifies required elements for an understandable, credible reliability prediction, which will provide the users of the prediction sufficient information to evaluate the effective use of the prediction results.

Complete article is available to CALCE Consortium Members.