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FOCUS AREAS

Quality Improvement Papers

Statistical Methods for Reliability Data Using SAS Software
William Q. Meeker and Luis A. Escobar, SUGI Proceedings, 1997


Abstract

In the past decade there has been a high degree of interest in improving the quality, productivity, and reliability of manufactured products. Global competition and higher customer expectations for safe, reliable products are driving this interest. After the areas of experimental design and statistical process control the one of reliability is the next to receive a high degree of emphasis. Industry's current concern is on how to move rapidly from product conceptualization to a cost-effective highly reliable product. Part of the reliability assurance process requires conducting tests and studies to obtain reliability data and to turn these data into useful information for making decisions.

In this paper we consider the use of modern methods for analyzing time-to-failure data that can be implemented using SAS® software. We provide an appropriate mix of proven traditional techniques, enhanced and brought up to date with some modern computer-based methodology. The methodology will be illustrated using PROC RELIABILITY to analyze some applications of product reliability.