Evaluation of reliability design based on information axiom

Reliability design is in order to satisfy the reliability requirements with minimum cost. Similar to functional design, reliability design will face decision-making of multiple schemes. A new method for evaluation of reliability design from the standpoint of scheme implementation complexity (the cost of the design execution) based on information axiom is proposed in this paper. Comprehensive assessment system of products reliability design schemes has been built based on the information axiom and fuzzy theory. Quantitative and qualitative reliability design requirements evaluation methods considering benefits and costs are presented, including single-scheme evaluation in independent condition, multi-scheme evaluation in independent condition and multi-scheme evaluation in decoupling condition. Requirement satisfied reliability design schemes with low implementation complexity and cost can be found easily by using the evaluation method proposed in this paper which helps to optimize the design and improve the reliability of the products. Application of the proposed approach on a signal processor indicates the methods can be effectively used for reliability design evaluation of any system. The proposed method has the capability and potential to become a useful evaluation tool for system reliability design in industry. As a future research, the criticality of the corresponding failure modes can be taken into account of the schemes selection process.