Design for Reliability (DfR) is a critical approach in the world of industrial manufacturing that focuses on designing products and processes in a way that ensures prominent levels of reliability and minimizes the likelihood of failures or defects. DFR encompasses multiple elements described in the following article.
Life cycle cost
Life cycle cost (LCC) is the “cumulative cost of a product throughout its life cycle”, from design to dismantling. With 60 to 80% of costs attributable to maintenance and operations, it is critical to reduce this amount to a minimum by ensuring that the upstream stages are carried out correctly: design, manufacture, installation.
Close the gap between design, operation and maintenance
Process, operations and maintenance & reliability experts should be included in the design process phase of a new piece of equipment.
Key elements of a good DFR process
- Maintainability and operability: Designing machines with ease of maintenance and service in mind. This includes accessible components, clear documentation, and user-friendly interfaces for diagnostics and repairs.
- Part Selection and robustness: Careful choice of components and materials with known and proven reliability records. Avoiding components that are prone to failure or are at risk of obsolescence. Creating designs that can withstand variations in manufacturing processes and operating conditions. Robust designs are less sensitive to minor variations and are more likely to meet reliability goals.
- Requirements Analysis: Understanding the specific reliability requirements of the product or system. This involves defining reliability metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) or Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
- Redundancy: Incorporating redundancy into critical systems when applicable. Redundant components or subsystems can take over in case of a failure, increasing overall system reliability.
- Testing and Simulation: Employing comprehensive testing and simulation methods to find and rectify potential weaknesses in the design before mass production. This includes accelerated life testing and reliability modeling.
- Build PM (Preventive Maintenance) program and SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) from the get-go: Based on FMEA, build complete maintenance strategy for this new machine before its start-up.
- Environmental Considerations: Design new machines with severe energy-efficiency expectations and to minimize carbon footprint. Also, products that are more reliable tend to generate less waste. When assets fail prematurely, they often end up as waste (e-waste) in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and the depletion of resources. DfR reduces this waste by extending product lifecycles.
- Data Monitoring and Analysis: Implementing systems for real-time data monitoring and analysis to detect early signs of degradation or impending failures. Predictive maintenance can significantly improve reliability.
- Feedback Loop: Setting up a feedback loop between design, manufacturing, and field performance. Data from the field can inform design improvements and future manufacturing process adjustments.
- Continuous Improvement: Recognizing that reliability is an ongoing concern. Regularly reviewing and updating DfR practices and incorporating lessons learned from failures and maintenance activities.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that the product complies with relevant industry standards and regulations related to reliability and safety.
- Supplier and Vendor Management: Ensuring that suppliers and vendors adhere to quality and reliability standards, as components from external sources can significantly affect the final product’s reliability.
Incorporating these elements into the design and manufacturing process helps ensure that industrial products are not only functional but also reliable, which is crucial for meeting production expectations, reducing warranty costs, and keeping a powerful reputation in the market. Eventually, as global resources become scarcer and environmental concerns grow, designing for reliability becomes an integral part of sustainable and responsible manufacturing. It not only helps the environment but also offers economic advantages and helps companies meet the evolving expectations of consumers and regulatory bodies.
Yoann Urruty, Eng., CMRP
Director of Technologies – Spartakus Technologies
yoann.urruty@spartakustech.com
Design for Reliability (DfR) is a critical industrial manufacturing approach, focusing on product reliability and defect reduction. DfR includes key elements like Life Cycle Cost (LCC), collaboration among experts, and critical considerations such as maintainability, part selection, redundancy, testing, and environmental sustainability. It ensures functional, reliable products, meeting production expectations, reducing warranty costs, and aligning with sustainability and evolving consumer and regulatory demands.