Accelerated Reliability Testing in a Field Study

• Activity Number: 474
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Quality and Productivity
• Author(s): Maria Weese*+ and Steve Fox and Mary Leitnaker and Deanna Starbuck
• Companies: Institute for Statistical Engineering and Aera Energy, LLC and Institute for Statistical Engineering and Aera Energy, LLC
• Keywords: Reliability ; Accelerated Testing ; Field Study

Abstract

Accelerated testing of equipment is typically accomplished by conducting tests at high stress levels. The intent of accelerated testing is to reduce test time and cost. The value of these tests relies on the ability to infer behavior at use conditions from the accelerated conditions of the test. This inference requires knowledge about the physical relationship between wear at field conditions and wear at accelerated conditions. A different approach to accelerated testing can be taken when our intention is to evaluate a device that is currently in use in the field. We present an example of the identification of accelerated conditions for testing devices based on results from field-testing. These conditions were then used in the field for implementing accelerating testing. After implementing the accelerated testing, we show how we knew we had identified a superior product.