Integration of RAMS information in design processes-a case study

The discussions in this paper are based on a case study on a manufacturer of advanced technological industrial systems with a global customer's base. The company wants to further improve the performance of their products with respect to quality, reliability, and maintainability, and to improve their work processes by integrating RAMS design methodology and philosophy. Currently their focus is to "Design and develop products for performance and effectiveness with the lowest cost". Even though RAMS philosophy/methodology/tools have been applied in the company for some years meet the demands of documented RAMS and LCC analysis and to improve the quality of existing and new products, it has not been applied in a systematic and repeatable way. However, development in information and communication technology has made it possible to use RAMS tools and philosophy in a more systematic and repeatable way. We found that there within the company existed almost 20 information sources and databases that contained RAMS data and information that in one way or another could be related to improvement of products and design, manufacturing, and product support work processes. Most of the information within them was in qualitative format and unsuitable for statistical analysis. Moreover, many of the information sources were neither integrated nor user friendly. As a result, most of the information and knowledge were not integrated into the design and manufacturing processes. The study concluded that there exists a need for controlling the information flow and the work processes involved in the product design, manufacture, delivery, commissioning, and after sales support life cycle phases. Additionally, the information sources and databases need to be related to type of use and users' needs to create the next leap forward in product and work process improvement. Furthermore, a need existed to reduce the number of information sources and to integrate them with in the main information systems and work processes. The system has to be more accessible, user friendly, effective and efficient. A RAMS coordinator position was created for facilitating design for performance issues, streamlining the routing and flow of information, making RAMS tools available and easily accessible, training of engineers, and for facilitating more use of product testing facilities.