RM 197: Closing the Gap Between Validation and Reality

What if passing the test is not enough?In reliability engineering, we often place a great deal of confidence in laboratory validation. We test, measure, analyze, and document. And when the product passes, we naturally assume it is ready for the field.But what happens when a product passes the lab test and still fails in the hands of the customer?Today, we are going to explore the gap between laboratory reliability testing and actual field performance. It is a gap that can be costly, frustrating, and sometimes difficult to explain. Products can perform well under controlled test conditions…