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摘要
Weibull time-to-fail distributions cannot be correctly estimated from field data when manufacturing populations from different vintages have different failure modes. To investigate the pitfalls of ongoing Weibull parameter estimation, two cases, based upon real events, were analyzed. First, a time-to-fail distribution was generated assuming the same Weibull shape parameter representing an increasing failure rate for each monthly batch or vintage of production. The shape parameter was estimated from simulated field data at regular periods as the population accumulated service time. Estimates of the shape parameter were not constant, but gradually decreased (as had occurred in a real system) with added service time. In the second case, field reliability performance was modeled to match the actual historical data for one product from a disk drive manufacturer. The actual data was proprietary and was not directly available for analysis. A production schedule was modeled with a mix of two failure characteristics. The population reaching the field in the first 12 months had a low, constant failure rate. For the second and third years of production, higher volumes were introduced that had the higher, increasing failure rates of the first case. Assessment of the mixed population at each month of calendar time resulted in an increasing Weibull shape parameter estimate at each assessment. When the two populations were separated and estimated properly, a better fit with more accurate estimates of Weibull shape parameters resulted.
- 出版日期2011-2
