Mechanical system reliability and cost integration using a sequential linear approximation method

The development of new products is dependent on product designs that incorporate high levels of reliability along with a design configuration that meets predetermined levels of system costs. Additional constraints on the product include explicit and implicit performance requirements.; Existing reliability and cost prediction methods result in no direct linkage between variables affecting these two dominant product attributes. A methodology to integrate reliability and cost estimates using a sequential linear approximation method is proposed. The sequential linear approximation method utilizes probability of failure sensitivities determined from probabilistic reliability estimation methods as well as manufacturing cost sensitivities. The application of the sequential linear approximation method to a mechanical system is demonstrated.