This application note describes a computer‐based method for automated evaluation of Weibull‐distributed life‐time data. It uses comercially available software, MathCad, to set up equations and graphs. The computer application is a simple and non‐expensive way of evaluating and displaying your life‐time data taking into consideration both parametric and non‐parametric confidence intervals. It is valid for arbitrarily censored data.

The Monte Carlo simulation technique is already well known and used to analyse complex problems. In this paper we present its use to determine the impact of a manufacturing process problem on output quality. During production start‐up on an automated manufacturing line a process problem escaped detection for a short period. There was the need to know its impact on output quality in order to provide an appropriate corrective action strategy for the products already in the warehouse and ready for shipment to selected users.

This paper gives a review of the methodology used to tune the run‐in process of a PC manufacturing line. It shows in some detail the analysis carried‐out on the test data gathered on the manufacturing line and presents a clear picture of the run‐in process in order to choose the best compromise between process efficiency and costs.