Test Engineering : A Concise Guide to Cost-effective Design, Development and Manufacture (Quality and Reliability Engineering Series)
by: Patrick D. T. O'Connor
Topics include: development test programme, electronics stress, analysis and corrective action system, flying probe, book homepage, functional testers, reliability demonstration, stress screening, hazard plotting, testing during development, boundary scan, stress cycling, uncertainty gap, accelerated stresses, aspects that should, voltage stress, downstream costs, accelerated test, fault coverage, reliability growth, statistical experiments, test coverage
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Review
"All undergraduates should read it and all test and engineering managers should have a copy." (Journal of the Safety & Reliability Society)
"Intended as an undergraduate engineering textbook, it covers mechanical, electronics, and software testing, and identifies which testing methods are appropriate to each stage of the product life cycle." (SciTech Book News, Vol. 25, No. 3)
"As the only treatment of test engineering, it fills and important void, and does so very well. This book is...important to the engineering field...as so many of us are involved in testing." (IIE Transactions on Quality and Reliability Engineering)
Book Description
Testing is usually the most expensive, time-consuming and difficult activity during the development of engineering products and systems. Development testing must be performed to ensure that designs meet requirements for performance, safety, durability, reliability, statutory aspects, etc. Most manufactured items must be tested to ensure that they are correctly made. However, much of the testing that is performed in industry is based upon traditions, standards and procedures that do not provide the optimum balance of assurance versus cost and time. There is often pressure to reduce testing because of the high costs involved, without appreciation of the effects on performance, reliability. etc. Misperceptions are commonplace, particularly the idea that tests should not stress products in excess of their operating levels.
The main reason for this situation seems to be that engineers have not developed a consistent philosophy and methodology for testing. Testing is seldom taught as part of engineering curricula, and there are no books on the subject. Specialist areas are taught, for example fatigue testing to mechanical engineers and digital device testing to electronics engineers. However, a wide range is untaught, particularly multidisciplinary and systems aspects. Testing is not just an engineering issue. Because of the importance and magnitude of the economic and business aspects testing is an issue for management. Testing is perceived as a high cost activity, when it should be considered as a value-adding process.
The objective of this book is, therefore, to propose a philosophy of engineering test and to describe the necessary technologies and methods that will provide a foundation for all plans, methods and decisions related to testing of engineered products and systems. The book will help those who must manage and conduct this most difficult and uncertain task. It will also provide a text which can be used as the basis for teaching the principles of testing to all engineering students.
From the Back Cover
Testing is the most expensive, time-consuming and difficult activity in the development of engineering products and systems. Many industrial testing practices are based upon traditional standards and procedures that fail to provide the optimum balance of assurance versus cost and time. Presenting a consistent philosophy of test engineering, this book is the first of its kind to describe the broad spectrum of modern methods and technologies.
This valuable reference will aid engineers who must manage and conduct the difficult and uncertain tasks of testing new designs and products. The unique and readable style makes this an indispensable text for all engineering students.
? A multi-disciplinary approach to test engineering including test economics and management.
? Practical, concise descriptions of the methods and technologies in modern mechanical, electronics and software testing, including accelerated test.
? Insights into the developing interface between modern design analysis methods and testing practice.
? An explanation of why products and systems fail, which testing methods are appropriate to each stage of the product life cycle and how testing can reduce failures.
? An overview of international testing regulations and standards.
Reviews:
Book Info -- Describes the broad spectrum of modern methods and technologies in test engineering. Offers principles of cost-effective design, development and manufacture of products and systems. Gives a breakdown of why product and systems fail, and which methods would be best to prevent these failures. DLC: Testing.
Critical information -- It is the very first book (that I'm aware of) written for test engineers and managers. This book is an overview of all types of testing.
The author's philosophy is excellent.....
"The author has never found a company or a project where it was considered in retrospect by those involved that too much was spent on a development test programme." Test Engineering by Patrick D. T. O'Connor.
When you consider that Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, the Comet IV and the Challenger failed not because of negligence, but because critical data slipped through the cracks, or was misinterpreted, this book may just prevent that next tragic unknown from taking place. Or at least arm engineers, and managers, as to what is taking place.
Highly recommended, from one in the business.
A survey of test methods
I bought this book seeking practical information relating to testing of manufactured PCB assemblies. I found relatively little information on that subject, and the information I did find was of a general nature.
I got the impression that if you are interested in a survey of issues dealing with mechnaical failures, you might find more to like in this book.