Basic Concepts

This chapter provides an overview of key concepts in reliability engineering, including failure modes, the likelihood and consequences of failure, and risk. It then introduces methods for identifying and evaluating failure modes. Both bottom-up and top-down approaches are discussed, along with their respective limitations. Techniques such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Ishikawa (cause-and-effect) diagrams, and fault tree analysis are explored. These methods are illustrated through case studies, including the identification of failure modes in a lubrication system and the investigation of causes contributing to premature fatigue failure in automotive suspension springs.