Bringing Prognostics into the Integrated System Design

Much effort has been made to define metrics for Prognostics Health Management (PHM). The problem is that most of this effort has focused on the new concept of Prognostics performance. Attention to the importance of true Integrated Systems Health Management (ISHM) has been masked by the focus on single failure mode physics of failure. The critical metrics derived from Integrated Systems Diagnostics Design (ISDD) have mostly been ignored. These critical metrics include Reliability, Safety, Testability, and System Maintainability & Sustainment, as well as the impact of Prognostics performance on Systems Diagnostics. This paper discusses the approach of using the ISDD process to determine the best balance of the Health Management design. It will be shown how the impact and effectiveness of Prognostics as integrated with the ISDD process provides true value to performance and cost avoidance.