INCREASING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH MISSION ORIENTED RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

A method for improving the operational effectiveness of complex weapon systems by applying mission oriented reliability analysis to reliability improvement programs is discussed. Instead of determining a single value for probability of mission success (P_s) which is based on the P_s values of all system components, levels of reliability are determined which are based on levels of performance required by the overall system for the successful completion of defined missions. This approach recognizes that subsystem failure or partial failure may not necessarily prevent satisfactory mission performance.

When combined with expected mission frequency distributions, these analyses focus attention on those components and sub-systems which can provide the most improvement in operational effectiveness by an improvement in reliability.

In this manner, time and effort spent on reliability improvement of system components, whose are effects on mission success may be negligible, is avoided; and the program efforts are oriented to those components where operational effectiveness payoff is greatest.