Reliability in industrial electronic equipment

THE EXPECTATION of the purchaser of industrial equipment is no different from that of the purchaser of any other form of equipment or, in fact, from our own when we purchase things for use or pleasure. Reliability is expected. Such reliability, however, includes more than long life, important as that may be; it also means long periods of freedom from readjustment and similar annoyances. The following observations relative to factors which enter into such reliability were obtained from experience in the field of industrial electronics, especially as found in the heavy industries. A word of caution is in order at this point: The impression that electronic equipment is hopelessly involved with repeated failures is not a true one. What is reported as in need of correction is actually based upon the known facts that performance to date has been such as to commit industry to the use of electronic means, and that the desired improvements are possible and worthwhile.