Elective Tutorials

Building on the foundational concepts presented in the Core Tutorials, the RAMS Elective Tutorials advance your knowledge of reliability and maintainability. Attend 10 Elective Tutorials in 2 years, and receive the RAMS certificate, a letter of completion, and a list of the tutorials you chose.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.