I Challenge Your Beliefs About Reliability Part I: Risky Beliefs

This 5-part essay on misunderstandings in R&M (reliability, maintainability, and other `ilities) concepts addresses 22 specific practices and beliefs. Some of the conflicts in theory and application are ventilated frankly, and deliberate efforts are made to stimulate self-analysis by professional R&M specialists as steps toward improving credibility of these Risky Beliefs. This is followed by four essays in parts II - V: Physical Happenings, Analytic Practices, Processes & Controls, and Planning & Policies. These essays will stimulate critical exchanges among the dedicated believers within the R&M community. The conceptual underpinnings of R&M technology should be continually reviewed and analysed because, alas, engineering is an art - and a risky one at that.