Recent Headlines:

Defense:

Vericor Power Systems LLC, Alpharetta, Georgia, is Being Awarded a $26,157,664 Modification to a Previously Awarded Contract (N00024-15-C-4100) to Exercise Options for the Manufacturing, Testing and Delivery of ETF40B Marine Gas Turbine Engines. – Department of Defense

The SLEP will extend the service life of LCAC from 20 to 30 years; sustain/enhance craft capability; replace obsolete electronics; repair corrosion damage; reduce life cycle cost by improving reliability and maintainability; increase survivability; and establish a common configuration baseline.

Bono: High Reliability a Continuing Goal of Military Health System – Health.mil

The Military Health System’s (MHS) journey to becoming a high reliability organization hasn’t been an easy one, and it isn’t complete.

Addressing the Reliability Challenge: Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity Tackles Safety and Cost Savings – I95 Business

The Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA), located on Aberdeen Proving Ground, conducts analyses across the Materiel Lifecycle to inform critical decisions for current and future soldier needs. AMSAA is engaged across the Army and Department of Defense (DoD) to provide analytical solutions to the most challenging reliability problems.

Mighty Ninety Demonstrates Weapon System Reliability – Air Force Global Strike Command

Air Force Global Strike Command conducts Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman tests twice annually to evaluate the readiness of Minuteman III ICBM forces.

USS Freedom Modernization Boosts Reliability, Increases Combat Capability – USNI News

When the Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom (LCS-1) goes out for sea trials this weekend after a drydocking selected restricted availability last year, the ship will feature a more advanced combat system than her sister ships.

Evaluation Program Ensures Reliability of Workforce – PEO ACWA

Many of the positions at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) require the employee meet the highest standards of reliability, and the U.S. Army Chemical Personnel Reliability Program (CPRP) provides the policy and procedures that define those standards.

GAO Report Questions Reliability of Alaska Missile Interceptors – Army Times

A new government report raises doubts about whether an Alaska-based missile defense system could protect the U.S. from a North Korean attack.

Navy Scraps RMMV Mine Drone, Accelerates CBARS – Breaking Defense

The Navy will scrap the troubled RMMV drone meant to hunt mines from its controversial Littoral Combat Ships, replacing it with a different type of robot boat, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said today.

Rugged, Reliable Laptops Key in Air Force Weather Systems, Alerting Airmen to Critical Conditions – Intelligent Aerospace

With the mission of providing “compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders,” it’s essential to get the right information to the right person at the right time.

Automotive:

Technology Woes Continue to Drive Up Problems: J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study – J.D. Power

Problems with technology continue to affect vehicle reliability according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS), released today.

(Un) Reliability Issues Edition – Infotainment Systems – Lauren Fix

A car’s reliability or unreliability is judged by its infotainment system. Yep, you read that right; infotainment is a determinant in auto reliability.

An Overview Of NASA Automotive Component Reliability Studies – NASA

The results of NASAs studies into the appropriateness of using US Automotive electronic parts in NASA spaceflight systems will be presented.

Energy:

EMEC Reliability Tests for Tidal Projects – 4C Offshore

Three European research and testing sites have embarked on the development of a methodology to improve reliability in marine energy converters.

Electric Reliability Update – February 29, 2016 – Van Ness Feldman

An electric reliability update for February 29, 2016.

DNV GL: Long Term Reliability Testing Required for New Materials – PV Magazine

Renewable energy advisory DNG GL has called for more sophisticated reliability testing for new and novel materials being deployed in the renewable energy sector.

Oil & Gas Industry Launches Blowout Preventer Reliability Joint Industry Project – ISHN

The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) and International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) have launched of a collaborative safety project to advance the safety and efficiency of global drilling operations.

Mass Transit:

Yes, Some MBTA Vehicles Have Actually Become More Reliable – Boston Globe

You may find it hard to believe, considering the terrible commutes of the past few days, but a few MBTA lines – or at least the vehicles that run on them – have become significantly more reliable in recent years.

Samtrans Invests in Reliability with New Bus Purchase – Peninsula Moves

With bus reliability levels that far exceed agency goals, SamTrans prides itself on maintaining its fleet of buses. But even the best mechanics in the world can’t solve every issue if the agency is stocked with vehicles that are well past their useful life.

Space/Aviation:

Automatic Programming Makes Swarm Robots Safer and More Reliable – Science Daily

Researchers from Sheffield Robotics have applied a novel method of automatically programming and controlling a swarm of up to 600 robots to complete a specified set of tasks simultaneously.

Allegiant Air Vows More Diligence on Aircraft Reliability Issues – Review Journal

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, bruised by allegations that it’s ignoring maintenance problems at its Orlando, Florida, facility, vowed to be more aggressive in addressing aircraft reliability issues as it works to upgrade its fleet with newer planes.

Industrial:

Gaps in Your Motor Reliability Program, Part 1 – UE Systems Inc.

Without that analysis, it’s exceedingly difficult to understand how something could have failed. The usual question that accompanies a call to repair facilities or support vendors is, “How could we have missed this?”

New Diagnostic Reliability Service From Rockwell Automation Improves Maintenance Strategies and Operational Effectiveness – Industry Week

Proactively maintaining electrical and automation control equipment has long been a time-consuming, manual task, as devices become more connected.

Motor Repair Standards for Increased Efficiency and Reliability Updated – Control Engineering

An updated edition of the repair of motors and generators by ANSI/EASA describes industry best practices for the repair, rewinding, and testing of electrical apparatus for ac and dc motors and generators.

Electronics:

High-reliability Resistor Targets Harshness of Real-World Current Sensing – IHS Electronics 360

Engineers usually don’t consider a basic resistor as a likely weak link in the reliability chain, but these passive components are often placed “out there” and exposed to stressful situations.

Quantitative Reliability Testing of Flexible Electronics – CMM Magazine

We are now entering an era of flexible electronics, and one popular design approach for tolerating flexibility is to overlay rigid electronic components on a deformable substrate.

Commercial:

HGST Hard Disks Still Super Reliable, Seagates Have Greatly Improved – Ars Technica

Cloud backup provider Backblaze has published more of its hard drive reliability data, giving a look at the company’s experiences with its 56,224 hard disks in 2015.