Problems in the specification and assessment of electronic-equipment reliability

This paper is concerned with some of the problems involved in the specification and assessment of electronic-equipment reliability. The emphasis is on mathematical and statistical aspects of reliability, in particular problems involving the use of the exponential reliability formula and its derivatives, and the development of cost/reliability models to estimate the optimum reliability for an equipment type. The related problems of definition and measurement of reliability, involving choice of time base, redundancy and reliability testing, are also discussed.