Design for Reliability and Maintainability Cost Model

Abstract

In this paper, the author presents a cost model which simultaneously incorporates the abilities of two main designs. Namely, design for reliability (DfR) and design for maintainability (DfMn). DfR and DfMn have been of a great concern for designers. The focus has been more on the quality rather than aspects of reliability and maintainability of product development in general and product design in particular. However, as more awareness and attention is paid to the whole product lifecycle, more product lifecycle X-ability needs to be considered upfront at the design stage. To develop a new model, cost models of design for reliability as well as design for maintainability have been considered and evaluated. This new model, which tackles the two criteria simultaneously, has been developed and is a parametric model which allows for running sensitivity analysis based on the different aspects of reliability and maintainability.