General Chair’s Welcome and Keynote Speaker
Dr. C. Richard Cassady, General Chair, 2011 RAMS
The 2011 Keynote Speaker is to be determined. Check back here soon for more details.
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Categories
Advisory Board Panel
Leaders from industry and government will discuss the technical, management, and training issues associated with using reliability as a competitive advantage in today’s global business environment. Symposium attendees may submit questions in advance to the panelists or raise them from the floor.
R&M Exhibitors’ Presentations and Demonstrations
R&M CAE tools continue to evolve in support of industry’s business processes. Our RAMS Exhibitors will highlight their latest functionality through brief presentations and demonstrations in a neutral setting. Please check outside the room for the vendor presentation schedule.
An Introduction to Probability Models in Reliability and Maintainability
Session: 1A, Monday 8:00-12:15
Core Tutor: C. Richard Cassady, Ph.D.
The purpose of this tutorial is to provide attendees with basic coverage of the traditional, fundamental probability models used to describe, improve, and optimize system reliability and maintainability. This coverage requires the discussion of some basic concepts from probability and distribution theory. No specific models are endorsed. Instead, emphasis is placed on identifying the key assumptions associated with each model. More…
Achieving Availability Cost-Effectively in Complex Systems
Session: 1B, Monday 8:00-10:00
How to accommodate today’s ever higher demands on complex system availability targets, while remaining mindful of life-cycle cost (LCC)? A method will be presented to assess the impact of testability strategies, maintenance policies, and redundancy management on system availability and LCC. Markov diagrams and Petri nets are used to that end. Impact of ageing and imperfect maintenance is taken into account. The method is illustrated on communication networks and rail industry examinations.
Accelerated Reliability Demonstration, RD and Assurance Tests, SPRT
Session: 2B, Monday 10:15-12:15
This paper explains the technical and mathematical methodology for acceleration of reliability qualification (fixed duration with and without replacement) and reliability assurance tests (SPRT) using physics and engineering rationale along with appropriately modified mathematical approach in the test design and data analysis. This approach is with the intent to obtain meaningful and relevant information on reliability of products in their actual use and in a cost and schedule effective manner.
Introduction to RAM Management (Reliability from Design Inception to Product Retirement)
Session: 4A, Monday 15:45-17:45
Core Tutor: Duane L. Dietrich, Ph.D.
In this presentation a product is followed from design inception to product retirement. The appropriate location and use of (1) Over Stress Tests, (2) Design Reviews, (3) FMEA, (4) Reliability System Analysis, (5) Accelerated Life Tests, (6) Real Time Life Tests, (7) Reliability Growth Tests, (8) Burn-In, (9) Environmental Stress Screens and (10) Statistical Process Control are discussed. Finally, field failures and the steps necessary to insure that the resulting engineering change orders yield improved reliability are covered. This paper is based primarily on the observation and experience of the author which was gained during a 40-year career in reliability and quality. More…
Dynamic Approach to Risk and Reliability in Design and Operations
Session: 4B, Monday 15:45-17:45
This tutorial provides an overview of current state of the art in system risk, reliability, and maintenance modeling using dynamic methods. The target audience of the tutorial is engineers who are familiar with the basic concepts of static (Boolean-based) system reliability modeling (RBD and/or FT) and who are unsure when (if at all) the benefits of using dynamic tools outweigh their drawbacks.
DOD Invited Papers Session on Implementation of new RAM initiatives within the Department of Defense
Session: 4C, Monday 15:45-17:45
This session describes actions being taken within the Department of Defense to implement new RAM initiatives directed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. Information is presented on the use of reliability engineering design practices; the concept, definition, and rationale for Materiel Availability (Am); and guidelines for Army T&E community use to insure RAM engineering and RAM T&E requirements remain at the forefront of T&E planning and management.
Introduction to Life Data Analysis
Session: 5A, Tuesday 8:00-12:15
Core Tutors: Caroline Lubert, Ph.D., and Clifford Lange, Ph.D.
The application of statistical analysis to reliability, maintainability, and supportability data offers huge potential to producer and consumer alike in terms of accurate prediction of system performance measures such as availability and cost effectiveness. In addition quantitative analysis of a system is an objective means to evaluate alternative prospective designs and to measure system behavior against prescribed figures of merit. More…
Accelerated Degradation Testing and Analysis
Session: 5B, Tuesday 8:00-10:00
For many products, accelerated degradation testing is more efficient than accelerated life testing. This tutorial presents accelerated degradation test methods, degradation models, estimation of model parameters, relationships between degradation and reliability, and estimation of reliability. Several practical examples are presented for illustration.
Risk Management Principles and Techniques
Session: 6B, Tuesday 10:15-12:15
Even though risk management is not a new topic in life, science, or business, there has been a growing emphasis on applying formal risk-based methods to decision-making. This tutorial provides a foundation for scientists, engineers, and business executives to explicitly apply risk-based approaches to help solve problems in their disciplines. The emphasis in the tutorial is on understanding risk and its many attributes, using both subjective and quantitative examples.
Introduction to Fault Tree Analysis
Session: 7A, Tuesday 13:50-15:30
Core Tutor: John Andrews, Ph.D.
A fault tree represents the causes of a specified system failure mode in terms of the failure modes of the system components. The analysis of the fault tree can produce two types of result: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative results specify the minimal contributions of component failures which result in system failure. Quantification provides the probability or frequency of the system failure modes. More…
Design of Experiments and Data Analysis
Session: 7B, Tuesday 13:30-15:30
This tutorial will teach attendees how to plan and conduct experiments effectively and efficiently, and more importantly how to analyze data correctly. Properties of different design types will be discussed. Methodologies for modeling and analyzing different data obtained from designed experiments will be introduced. The appropriate approach for investigating censored data obtained from life testing will also be presented.
Fundamentals of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Session: 8A, Tuesday, 15:45-17:45
Core Tutor: John B. Bowles, Ph.D.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is potentially one of the most beneficial and productive tasks in a well structured reliability program. It has evolved from a safety analysis, usually done after the design was complete, into a powerful design tool that can be used throughout the development process to enhance product safety and reliability. A FMEA consists of examining the modes and causes of potential item failures and determining the product response to the failure. Steps can then be taken to change the design to eliminate the failure, mitigate its effects, or develop compensating provisions if the failure should occur. FMEA can be applied to hardware, software, material, and process related causes of failure. More…
An Introduction to Optimization Methods in Reliability and Maintainability
Session: 8B, Tuesday 15:45-17:45
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce the basic concepts of optimization in R&M. We review the fundamentals of optimization theory, then explore various optimization techniques, including specific optimization models for R&M problems, methods for s_olving them, and provide some examples for understanding the application. This is an advanced tutorial and upon completion of the tutorial, attendees should have an understanding of optimization in general and how it applies to R&M problems.
Introduction to Markov-Chain Modeling, Analysis & Optimization
Session: 9A, Wednesday 8:00-10:00
Markov chains are a class of stochastic processes that can be used to model a wide variety of issues related to reliability and maintainability. This tutorial covers the fundamental concepts of discrete-time and continuous-time Markov chains.
Empirical Methods for Process and Equipment Prognostics
Session: 9B, Wednesday 8:00-10:00
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce attendees to empirical modeling techniques for process and equipment monitoring, detection, diagnostics, and prognostics. The tutorial will provide a brief background and an overview of the theoretical foundations. The course will be applications oriented in that the assumptions inherent in the techniques will be explained so that the appropriate technique can be selected and applied to solve specific engineering problems. Case studies are included.
Lessons Learned for Effective FMEAs
Session: 11A, Wedneday 13:30-15:30
Failure Mode & Effects Analysis has the potential to be a powerful reliability tool to reduce product design and manufacturing risk in a cost effective manner. With shorter product development times, tighter budgets and intense global competition, Design for Reliability tools such as FMEA must be applied correctly. Why is it that some companies have outstanding success in their FMEA application and others do not? What is the difference between well done and poorly done FMEAs?
Reliability Demonstration: Theory and Applications
Session: 11B, Wednesday 13:30-15:30
This tutorial will provide an overview of several reliability demonstration methods and techniques practiced in the industry. Tutorial will cover pros and cons of application of each method based on product type, reliability requirements, and cost considerations.
Software Reliability Applications
Session: 12A, Wednesday 15:45-17:45
This tutorial will address practical Software Reliability concepts, models, and tools, and how they should be applied throughout the product life cycle. Discussions will include the Software Reliability Process, Capability Maturity Model, Rayleigh Model Analysis (Software Error Estimation Program – SWEEP), and the Computer Aided Software Reliability Estimation (CASRE) tool. The tutorial attendee will gain a basic understanding of SW Reliability and know how to get and apply pertinent tools.
System Safety in a Variety of Industries
Session: 12B, Wednesday 15:45-17:45
This tutorial is presented by a veteran of the System Safety Society. The goal is to learn the science of system safety and how to implement safety measures proactively and efficiently in any industry. It is intended for beginning level engineers and intermediate level practitioners in design and safety. Technical managers in all engineering fields will find it a good overview of system safety. Examples from aerospace, medical device, automotive, and healthcare industries are covered.
FRACAS Fundamentals, Best Practices and Practical Application
Session: 13A, Thursday 8:00-10:00
This tutorial introduces basic information about closed loop corrective action processes. and addresses several of the key obstacles to deriving a successful closed loop corrective action process. The tutorial includes best practice suggestions and a proven methodology to fully realize the benefits of a lucrative closed loop corrective action process. Several case studies are presented to highlight success stories from various groups.
Statistical Warranty Forecasting
Session: 13B, Thursday 8:00-10:00
This tutorial reviews probabilistic models and statistical methods used for the forecasting of warranty claims and the associated cost. The discussion is illustrated by case studies from the author’s corporate and consulting experience.
Our Program
RAMS 2011: The Role of Reliability and Maintainability in Design for Sustainability
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR FINAL 2011 PROGRAM!
RAMS 2011 will focus on the continuing development of reliability (and safety) as a competitive advantage in every industry from communications and energy to transportation and defense. In the history of this Symposium, reliability, maintainability, and safety have never been more crucial in the design, development, and operation of components systems and networks.
Read further for detailed descriptions of each session, or download the printable brochure. Attendance at RAMS presentations and tutorials may be used to earn CEUs, as well as RAMS Tutorial Certification. ASQ Certification exams are also available onsite.