I think that applies more to mechanical system although it does also to electronic systems. However, the reliability in general tends to improve. Nevertheless, the reliability still decreases as the number of components increases. The US Military has made public their studies on this issue and so has NASA. They are not distributed free. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerhard Fiedler" To: Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 8:37 AM Subject: Re: [OT]your thoughts reliability analysis > jtroxas wrote: > >> does the statement "more parts, more complex = less reliable" still holds >> today electronics computers etc..... or is this just one of those myths >> we >> sometimes hear.. >> >> I dont know if this is the exact statement nor remember what term they >> call >> it or where it came from or who said it.. but from what I remember it >> sounds >> something like that.. >> >> I would like to hear some of your thoughts... > > It's not as easy. A simple thought experiment: one of the common ways to > enhance reliability is to use several units, ideally all checking on each > other. This is a typical case where more parts is considered more > reliable. > > It's not the number of parts that much, it's how severe the damage is in > each of the failure modes and how probable these failure modes are in the > application. Adding a few parts to a circuit in strategic places can make > the likely failure modes much less severe or the severe failure modes much > less likely, and therefore increase the reliability (think PIC input > protection). > > Gerhard > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist