An Availability Study for a SME

Abstract

A case study of an availability analysis for a small commercial company is presented. The analysis was carried out to meet a customer requirement for the availability of an electronic ground-based system in a benign environment. Availability calculations were based on failure data provided and an explanation of the methodology and problems encountered and dealt with are discussed. The methodology includes failure classification according to MIL-HDBK-781A and how it may be used to promote and develop internal processes. A commentary on the background to reliability/availability specification is provided and a number of recommendations for monitoring reliability and availability are given.

Keywords:

• Reliability
• SME's
• availability analysis

Acknowledgments

The authors’ thanks are extended to the referee for his comments on some of the equations and to Mr Peter Dixon for his help in dealing with the equations.