Reliability Techniques in the Service of Industry

Failures which occur in any industrial activity reduce the profitability and safety of commercial ventures. Numerical estimates of reliability, availability, and profitability are based on an understanding of the fundamental concepts of reliability engineering. These estimates assist comparison of alternative design or improvement strategies for process plant. Although a reliability assessment is concerned largely with equipment failures, the important part played by human reliability can be estimated and included in such studies. Plant reliability interacts with the morale of the workforce; morale is unfortunately not easy to quantify. The methods and procedure of a reliability analysis are described. A degree of flexibility in the assessor's approach is useful when the rigour of the study must be adjusted to suit practical cost considerations.