Advances in the reliable design of electronics

Summary form only given. It is pointed out that, to develop a meaningful computerized concurrent engineering environment for the design of electronic equipment, the tools to be incorporated must be assessed as to their appropriateness and accuracy. To be useful, the methods employed by the software tools developed must be based on a scientific foundation. A general evaluation of many of the R&M software tools and associated techniques presently being utilized suggests that US electronics industries that use such software may be in trouble. The problem is that many of the R&M techniques that have been computerized are not appropriate for design and not based on any scientific foundation. It is thus concluded that the use of these tools for the development of new cost-effective and timely products will further decrease US competitiveness in the global market