RGA Data Types

=Data Types=

Introduction
Reliability growth analysis can be conducted using different data types. The following data types can be utilized in the RGA software, as shown in the Data Type Expert in Figures DataTypeExpert and DataTypeExpert1:
 * 1) 	Developmental Testing (Reliability Growth Data)
 * 2) 	Time-to-Failure Data
 * 3) 	Failure Times
 * 4) 	Grouped Failure Times
 * 5) 	Multiple Systems (Known Operating Times)
 * 6) 	Multiple Systems (Concurrent Operating Times)
 * 7) 	Multiple Systems with Dates
 * 8) 	Multiple Systems with Event Codes
 * 9) 	Discrete Data
 * 10) 	Sequential
 * 11) 	Sequential with Mode
 * 12) 	Grouped per Configuration
 * 13) 	Mixed Data
 * 14) 	Multi-Phase Data
 * 15) 	Failure Times
 * 16) 	Grouped Failure Times
 * 17) 	Mixed Data
 * 18) 	Reliability Data
 * 19) 	Fielded Systems
 * 20) 	Repairable
 * 21) 	Fleet

This chapter explores and examines these possible data schemes and outlines the available models for each data type.

Fielded Systems
Fielded systems are systems that are used by customers in the field and for which failure information is not derived from an in-house test. This type of data is analogous to warranty data. The data types available for fielded systems data entry are: •	Repairable Systems •	Fleet

Repairable Systems
Repairable Systems data is identical in format to the Multiple Systems (Concurrent Operating Times) data. It also can be entered in the normal or advanced view. Figure Repair illustrates a sample data set. In repairable systems, the purpose of the analysis is not to evaluate reliability growth but rather to obtain reliability estimates for the system, including expected number of failures, reliability at a given time, and so forth.

Models for Repairable Systems Data
The following models can be used to analyze repairable systems data. Models and examples using different data types are discussed in Chapter 13. 1)	Power Law 2)	Crow Extended

Fleet
This data type is used to analyze the entire population (fleet). The data entry for this data type is similar to the data entry for repairable systems; however, the overall data analysis is again different. In repairable systems, the reliability of a single system can be tracked and quantified, whereas in a fleet analysis, data from the entire fleet as a whole is analyzed. Figure Fleetpic presents an example of data entered for fleet analysis.

Models for Fleet Data
The following models can be used to analyze fleet data. Models and examples using different data types are discussed in later chapters. 1)	Crow-AMSAA (NHPP) (Chapter 5) 2)	Crow Extended (Chapter 9)

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