Reliability is Vital for the Consumer Product Industry

In a study on consumer perception on durable goods, the importance of reliability in consumer products is notable. The study evaluated the importance of purchasing factors over 18 varying product categories, such as clothing, toys, appliances, sports equipment, electronics, and cars. The factors considered included brand and appearance, as well as reliability. As noted in the study, “Reliability was found to be an ‘extremely important’ factor for all the products categories in which it was surveyed.” While clearly other factors, such as price were still noted as “very” important, reliability was the standout factor in purchasing decisions.

Consider how often consumers rely on product reviews for purchasing decisions. Rating factors – number of stars, numerics ratings, etc. – are not only of utmost importance, but are widely based on consumer perceptions of product reliability.

To ensure your consumer products meet the standards your customers expect, it is vital to make sure your products are reliable. That is where Relyence steps in. Relyence provides the software tools you need in order to evaluate product reliability throughout your product lifecycle: from design to distribution.

Reliability Analysis Software Tools for the Consumer Product Industry

Consumer product manufacturers can look to Relyence reliability analysis software tools to ensure their products, as well as their manufacturing processes, are efficient and reliable. Relyence offers products designed to work on their own or as an integrated suite to help you meet reliability and quality goals. Our tools include:

• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): Relyence FMEA software provides an organized approach for evaluating your product in order to uncover defects, and then work to eliminate or mitigate those defects. FMEA is one of the most commonly used techniques to ensure product reliability and quality.
• Failure Reporting, Analysis and Corrective Action Software (FRACAS): Relyence FRACAS falls under the umbrella of CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) processes. CAPA enables you to track customer complaints, failure reports, safety and compliance crises, audit reports, and any issue or anomaly that requires attention. FRACAS and CAPA systems also provide the mechanisms for making sure corrective actions are taken to resolve issues, as well as identifying preventive solutions to avoid problems in the future.
• Fault Tree Analysis (FTA): Relyence Fault Tree is used for the purpose of risk assessment. Consumer products must ensure high risk events – such as fires, explosions, and any event that could result in injury – do not occur. This is often done with the help of fault tree analysis software which models high risk events and provides a measurable way to evaluate and control risk.
• Reliability Prediction: While reliability prediction analysis was developed for use in the defense industry, it has become widely used across a range of industries due to its unique ability to assess reliability during the product design stage. Relyence Reliability Prediction enables you to evaluate product MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) early on, so you can “design-in” reliability from the start.
• Weibull Analysis: Using life data, or data gathered during product use, Relyence Weibull performs statistical analyses that allow you to uncover failure trends and can also help to determine product warranty terms.

Commonly Used Reliability Standards and Requirements for Consumer Products

There are an array of standards that provide a baseline for reliability analysis for consumer products. Most of these standards are not specific to the consumer product industry, but are used across a broad range of industries due to their widespread acceptance and proven effectiveness.

• AIAG & VDA: The FMEA Handbook, published by the AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) and VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie, or the German Association of the Automotive Industry), defines the Action Priority approach for risk assessment, and is accepted across industries worldwide.
• SAE J1739 & ARP5580: The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) FMEA guidelines were developed for the automotive industry in conjunction with DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. The SAE FMEA standard and its RPN (Risk Priority Number) approach to risk assessment is accepted across many industries, including the consumer product sector, for performing failure mode and effects analyses.
• ISO and ANSI: ISO 9001 and related quality standards such as ISO/TS 16949, and ISO 14001 are some of the standards most commonly accepted and adhered to in the consumer product sector. ANSI standards, such as ANSI/VITA 51.1, provide guidelines for reliability and quality measures.
• Six Sigma: Six Sigma quality practices and procedures are often used by consumer product manufacturers to provide effective and proven quality control measures.
• Telcordia: Telcordia SR-332 provides hardware and electronic device reliability prediction procedures that were developed with support and input from major commercial organizations. Designed initially for use in the telecom industry, this reliability prediction standard is used throughout an array of industries, including consumer products, due to its wide applicability.
• MIL-HDBK-217: MIL-HDBK-217 is broadly accepted and a widely used standard for reliability prediction analysis. Through developed for use in the defense and military sectors, it is the most commonly used reliability prediction standard across all industries. Due to its long history and breadth of electronic devices supported, it remains the standard for MTBF and failure rate prediction analyses.

The Relyence reliability analysis platform is designed and developed to work with all these standards, as well as many others. The powerful customization capabilities built into Relyence also ensures that our tools can be adapted to suit your unique needs, requirements, and processes.

Recognized Benefits of Using the Relyence Reliability Toolset

Relyence provides a host of benefits to help you achieve your reliability goals:

• Browser-based: Our products are all browser-based – meaning no IT requirements, no install, and no hassle. Plus, you can access our tools from any browser at any time.
• What-If? analysis: Our What If? analysis capabilities allows you to evaluate the trade-offs of different designs, which can help you make better business decisions.
• Customizable dashboards: Dashboards provide a high-level overview of all your reliability metrics and processes. Dashboards can be as high-level or as detailed as you prefer, and include drill down capabilities for insight into the underlying data.
• Easy integration: Consumer product manufacturers rely on a number of software tools for everyday business needs. The Relyence platform is built to integrate seamlessly with other tools, so you can integrate reliability analysis into your processes with maximum efficiency.
• Easy to learn and use: The streamlined elegance of the Relyence toolset is one of that factors that have made the Relyence brand synonymous with ease-of-use and intuitive design.
• Range of tools: No matter what analysis technique you prefer to use for reliability evaluation, Relyence has a software tool to help. And, you can combine multiple tools in one interface for a comprehensive reliability platform.

Key Features to Look for When Evaluating Reliability Analysis Software for Consumer Products

Consumer product companies face a new landscape of high user expectations, competitive environments, and regulatory requirements. If you are looking for a reliability and quality toolset to manage these needs, the following factors are important considerations:

• Core capabilities: Your reliability analysis software needs to perform a number of core tasks, including integrating industry-specific compliance standards, in a quick and easy manner. Even complex tasks should be easily learned and quick to repeat. This is where Relyence shines: our tools uniquely combine an intuitive design with sophisticated calculation engines and high-tech capabilities.
• Up-to-date technology: You want your reliability analysis software to feature up-to-date technology to ensure convenience and longevity. With browser-based accessibility and support for mobile devices, Relyence software is equipped to meet the needs to today’s versatile, mobile, and distributed teams.
• Knowledgeable and responsive support: To ensure you get the most out of your software, look for a product that comes with strong support services. The complete Relyence suite of reliability and analysis tools is supported by our skilled training and technical specialists. With Relyence, you get a partner in reliability.
• Continual product improvement: Your reliability analysis software should continue to innovate and provide improved features over time. At Relyence, we listen closely to customers’ suggestions for improvement. And we have an unmatched track record for continual product updates and improvements.
• A full software suite: Though you may only use one type of reliability analysis now, it’s important to leave room for development. When you choose software from a provider that offers a full software suite, you can expand the tools you use as your needs evolve.
• Customization: Make sure your software reliability tool suite meets your needs and you do not have to change or adapt for restrictions of the software. You want not only built-in customization features, but an implementation team that can provide support tailored to meet your requirements.