Episodes

  • SOR 1172 Tradeoffs and Right to Repair

    SOR 1172 Tradeoffs and Right to Repair
    May 8 2026
    Tradeoffs and Right to Repair Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss right-to-repair laws and the trade-offs for design and manufacturing. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss how manufacturers now have to balance making a product reliable and also capable of being repaired by the end-user. Topics include: There can be a big trade-off […]
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  • SOR 1171 Changing Conditions and Challenges

    SOR 1171 Changing Conditions and Challenges
    May 4 2026
    Changing Conditions and Challenges Abstract Enrico and Fred discuss the many ways working on creating a reliable product is difficult. Key Points Join Enrico and Fred as they discuss the impact of changes in economic forces, which, for one, creates the need to adjust reliability plans. Topics include: The impact of short-term budget tightening. The […]
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  • SOR 1170 Lifecycle Target Misalignment

    SOR 1170 Lifecycle Target Misalignment
    May 1 2026
    Lifecycle Target Misalignment Abstract Dianna and Fred discuss the dangers of lifecycle target misalignment and how they impact product engineering and customer satisfaction. Key Points Join Dianna and Fred as they discuss the dangers of lifecycle target misalignment and how they impact product engineering and customer satisfaction. Topics include: The story of a 25-year-old cell […]
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  • SOR 1169 Ongoing Projects

    SOR 1169 Ongoing Projects
    Apr 27 2026
    Ongoing Projects Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss the 10th anniversary of the publication of Kirk’s book, Next Generation HALT and HASS: Robust Design of Electronics and Systems. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss the reasons and relevance of writing a book on HALT and HASS and why it was intended to be […]
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  • SOR 1168 25 Year Old Communicator

    SOR 1168 25 Year Old Communicator
    Apr 24 2026
    25 Year Old Communicator Abstract Kirk and Fred discuss how, for most electronic equipment, technological obsolescence comes well before devices wear out. Key Points Join Kirk and Fred as they discuss how the vast majority of solid-state electronics have much longer intrinsic lifetimes than their period of technological usefulness. Topics include: For the vast majority […]
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  • SOR 1167 Future Reliability Engineering

    SOR 1167 Future Reliability Engineering
    Apr 20 2026
    Future Reliability Engineering Abstract Mojan and Fred discuss the monumental reliability challenges of a mission to Mars. While the fundamental physics remains the same, they explore why success depends on a more rigorous application of existing methods, autonomous systems, and the shift toward heavy simulation and in-situ repairs. Key Points Join Mojan and Fred as they […]
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  • SOR 1166 Best Recommended Option

    SOR 1166 Best Recommended Option
    Apr 17 2026
    Best Recommended Option Abstract Chris and Fred discuss which liner is best to use on a centrifugal pump, or make a general recommendation. How do you make a recommendation using reliability performance? Key Points Join Chris and Fred as they respond to a listener who asked how to identify the best liner for a centrifugal […]
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  • SOR 1165 Analyzing Repaired Spares

    SOR 1165 Analyzing Repaired Spares
    Apr 13 2026
    Analyzing failure data for repairable systems sounds straightforward—until you start asking the right questions. In this episode, Chris and Fred unpack a listener’s challenge: how to model reliability when failed components are repaired and returned to service. The discussion quickly moves beyond Weibull curves and into a more uncomfortable reality—maintenance itself often increases failure risk, at least in the short term. With limited data and multiple failure mechanisms at play, traditional statistical approaches can mislead more than they help. Instead, the focus shifts to understanding failure physics, questioning assumptions, and making practical decisions that actually improve reliability—not just model it.
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