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ITEM Software
Experts in reliability, safety and risk assessment software
  ProductsITEM ToolKitReliability Prediction

Reliability Prediction for Mean Time Between Failures

Reliability Prediction tools such as ITEM ToolKit are absolutely essential when the reliability of your electronic and mechanical components, systems and projects is critical for mission success. When you develop products and systems for commercial, military, or any other application, you need to ensure reliability and consistent performance.

Electronics and Mechanical products, systems, and components are naturally prone to eventual breakdown owing to the number of environmental variables, heat, stress and moving parts. The main question is "When?". Reliability is a measure of the frequency of failures over time. System reliability has a major impact on maintenance and repair costs as well as the continuity of service and customer satisfaction.

The Role of Reliability Prediction

During the reliability analysis or process, reliability prediction or MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) has many functions and is often the foundation for any analysis. Whether you're designing new or updating an existing system, ITEM ToolKit can assist in determining the impact of proposed design changes. It also provides a deeper understanding of acceptable reliability levels under environmental extremes. You can evaluate acceptable limits of failure for your system, or meet overall design goals and the requirements of your clients as well.

The six ITEM ToolKit reliability prediction modules provide powerful and competitive advantages, for example:

  • Combine prediction methods for complex analysis
  • Optimize designs to meet targeted goals
  • Select components with regard to reliability and cost savings
  • Be more accurate and efficient than with manual methods
  • Take advantage of powerful "what if" analytical tools

ITEM ToolKit offers the greatest flexibility and ease of use in 6 reliability prediction modules. The modules MIL-217, Telcordia (Bellcore), NSWC, IEC 62380 (RDF), IEC 61709 and China 299B all share a powerful set of features and capabilities for inputting and utilizing data in multiple operations. Now you can generate the most complete analysis for your purposes.

Perfect for both military and commercial applications. The ITEM ToolKit reliability prediction modules can aid in locating areas for potential reliability improvement. The software offers the most advance and diverse Multi-Document Interface (MDI) features allowing you to construct and analyze your system with accuracy and speed.

Reliability Software Overview

The Reliability Software modules of ITEM ToolKit provide a user-friendly interface that allows you to construct, analyze, and display system models using the interactive facilities. Building a hierarchies and adding new components could not be easier. ToolKit calculates the failure rates, including mean time between failure (MTBF), associated with new components as they are added to the system, along with the overall system failure rate. Project data may be viewed both via grid view or dialog view simultaneously, allowing predictions to be performed with a minimum of effort.

Each reliability prediction module is designed to analyze and calculate component, sub system and system failure rates in accordance with the appropriate standard. After the analysis is complete, ITEM ToolKit's integrated environment comes into its own with powerful conversion facilities to transfer data to other reliability software modules of the program. For example, transfer your MIL-217 project data to FMECA or your Bellcore project to RBD. These powerful facilities transfer as much of the available information as possible, saving you valuable time and effort.

Features

Hierarchy Diagrams

Users can interactively construct hierarchy diagrams that represent the structure of a system at various hierarchical levels. As new components are added to the system, each module automatically calculates and updates all dependent and overall failure rates.

Parts Count & Parts Stress Analysis

When adding components to your system, ITEM ToolKit automatically employs the applicable default values (Parts Count). The Parts Count generally requires less information such as part quantities, quality levels and the application environment. It is most applicable early in the design phase and proposal formulation.

You have the option of modifying these values to meet specific system or project requirements (Parts Stress). The Part Stress Analysis requires more detailed information and is usually applicable later in the design phase.

MTBF & Failure Rate Calculations

MTBF and Failure rates are automatically computed and displayed for all levels of systems and projects.

Redundancy and Repairable Calculations

Each reliability software module of ITEM ToolKit includes redundancy and repairable options for calculations of availability and failure rates at block and system levels.

User Defined Linked Blocks

A Linked Block is a graphical representation of an existing block that assumes the exact characteristics of another block in your System. Linked Blocks enable you to reduce repetitive data entry. Changes made to the source block will automatically update in the Linked Block.

Pi Factors

Each module calculates and makes visible the various Pi Factors used to calculate the Failure Rates for the Component categories per the applicable standard being used.

"What If" Study

"What-if" studies allow you to preview and evaluate the feasibility and quality of your design and the selection of your components. This allows you model the system, change components, and see the effects without having to construct an actual system.

External Arrhenius Temperature Model for User Defined Failure Rates

For some designs you use a component which cannot be modeled using a Component Category known to the standard, or you have a failure rate from a manufacturer of a subassembly. By using the External component and the Arrhenius temperature model, you can introduce a non-standard component into you analysis, and vary the failure rate with temperature via the Arrhenius temperature formula.

Reliability Allocation

Allocation models logically apportion the product design reliability into lower level design criteria, such that the cumulative reliability still meets the requirements. ITEM ToolKit performs allocation analysis at two levels, project and system level.

ITEM ToolKit contains the following five allocation models:

  • Equal Allocation
  • AGREE Allocation
  • Feasibility of Objective Allocation
  • ARINC Apportionment Technique
  • Repairable Systems Allocation

Derating

Derating is the selection and application of parts and materials so that the applied stress is less than rated for a specific application. For example, derating is the negative slope of a power-versus-temperature graph. It shows that as the operating ambient temperature increases, the output power of a particular component drops to ensure reliable system operation. Derating curves provide a quick way to estimate the maximum output power of a device at a given temperature.

Following are the commonly used derating standards that are included within ITEM ToolKit :

  • NAVSEA TE000-AB-GTP-010
  • MIL-HDBK-1547
  • MIL-STD-975M (NASA)
  • NAVAIR-AS-4613 Class A
  • NAVAIR-AS-4613 Class B
  • NAVAIR-AS-4613 Class C
  • User Defined Derating Files

MIL-217 Module

The MIL-HDBK-217 Module of ITEM ToolKit is a powerful reliability prediction program based on the internationally recognized method of calculating electronic equipment reliability defined in MIL- HDBK-217 (published by the US Department of Defense). This standard uses a series of models for various categories of electronic, electrical and electro-mechanical components to predict failure rates that are affected by environmental conditions, quality levels, stress conditions and various other parameters. These models are fully detailed within MIL-HDBK-217.

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IEC 62380 Module

The IEC 62380 module supports reliability prediction methods based on the latest European Reliability Prediction Standard. Originally, a French Standard published by the Union Technique de L'Electricite (UTE, July 2000 - RDF). The standard has evolved and become the European Standard for Reliability Prediction (IEC 62380). Its unique approach and methodology has gained worldwide recognition. IEC 62380 is a significant step forward in reliability prediction when compared to older reliability standards.

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Telcordia Module

The Telcordia Software Module of ITEM ToolKit calculates the reliability prediction of electronic equipment based on the Telcordia (Bellcore) TR-332 and SR-332 standards. These standards use a series of models for various categories of electronic, electrical and electro-mechanical components to predict steady-state failure rates which environmental conditions, quality levels, electrical stress conditions and various other parameters affect. It provides predictions at the component level, system level or project level for COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf Parts).

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NSWC Module

The NSWC module of ITEM ToolKit uses a series of models for various categories of mechanical components to predict failure rates based on temperature, stresses, flow rates and various other parameters. Standard procedures for predicting the reliability of mechanical components, sub-systems and systems are defined in the Naval Surface Warfare Center Handbook of Reliability Prediction Procedures for Mechanical Equipment (NSWC 06/LE1).

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China 299B Module

The China 299B Module of ITEM ToolKit is a powerful reliability prediction program based on the internationally recognized method of calculating electronic equipment reliability provided in the Chinese Military Standard. This standard uses a series of models for various categories of electronic, electrical and electro-mechanical components to predict failure rates that are affected by environmental conditions, quality levels, stress conditions and various other parameters.

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IEC 61709 Module

The IEC-61709 module supports the reliability prediction methods based on the European Prediction Standard IEC-61709. This module is predominantly based on the Siemens Prediction Standard SN-29500, as well as conforming to section 19 for PCBs and section 20 for the Hybrid Circuits within the European Prediction Standard IEC-62380 (RDF 2000/UTE C 80-810).

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  Specification Sheet

Reliability Prediction Software Screen Shot

 > Reliability Prediction Software

 > Six of the Thirteen ITEM ToolKit Modules

 > Standards :

   > MIL-HDBK-217 F Notice 2

   > Telcordia TR-332 & SR-332

   > IEC 62380

   > IEC 61709

   > China (GJB/Z) 299B

   > NSWC 06/LE1

 > Combine Predictions for Complex Analyses

 > Powerful 'What If' Analytical Tools

 > User Defined Custom Libraries

 > Extensive Reporting and Charting Facilities

Contact us now for a price list, free trial or quote: sales@itemsoft.com | US: +1 (714) 408 7788 | UK: +44 (0) 2392 16 0707