Increase profitability and reduce risk through effective parts selection and management Corporations recognize that technology can be the key to fueling product design and development. But just as crucial-if not more-to a company's success are the decisions about when, what, and how a technology will be used. Few companies have failed because the right technology was not available; many have failed when a technology was not effectively selected and managed. Parts Selection and Management is a guide to increasing company profitability and reducing the time-to-profit through the efficient management of the process of parts selection and management. Taking an «eyes-on, hands-off» approach to parts selection, this guidebook addresses risk-assessment, decision-making steps, and subsequent management activities. The book covers everything from methodologies for parts selection and management, product requirements and specifications, and manufacturer assessment procedures to ways to track part changes through the supply chain, reliability assessment, and environmental, legislative, and legal issues. Written by a seasoned professional, teacher, and author in the field, the book enables companies to: * Employ effective risk assessment and mitigation techniques * Make an informed company-wide decision about parts selection and management * Choose parts to fit the functionality of the product and other constraints * Maximize system supportability by preparing for parts obsolescence * Improve supply-chain interactions and communications with customers and regulatory agencies to minimize time-to-profit Shedding light on a neglected but essential aspect of product development, Parts Selection and Management will give your organization the tools you need to avoid the risks associated with product use while promoting flexibility, innovation, and creativity in your product development.
An Integrated Approach to Product Development Reliability Engineering presents an integrated approach to the design, engineering, and management of reliability activities throughout the life cycle of a product, including concept, research and development, design, manufacturing, assembly, sales, and service. Containing illustrative guides that include worked problems, numerical examples, homework problems, a solutions manual, and class-tested materials, it demonstrates to product development and manufacturing professionals how to distribute key reliability practices throughout an organization. The authors explain how to integrate reliability methods and techniques in the Six Sigma process and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). They also discuss relationships between warranty and reliability, as well as legal and liability issues. Other topics covered include: Reliability engineering in the 21st Century Probability life distributions for reliability analysis Process control and process capability Failure modes, mechanisms, and effects analysis Health monitoring and prognostics Reliability tests and reliability estimation Reliability Engineering provides a comprehensive list of references on the topics covered in each chapter. It is an invaluable resource for those interested in gaining fundamental knowledge of the practical aspects of reliability in design, manufacturing, and testing. In addition, it is useful for implementation and management of reliability programs.