This paper will illustrate how the rail transportation industry has benefited from the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors Corporation adhering to a structured reliability process during the design of new locomotive models. This structured process continues throughout the life cycle of a locomotive to ensure that any potential product problems are detected and analysed and corrective action applied. Details will be provided on how the elements making up the EMD reliability process such as modelling, predictions, growth tests, verification tests and statistical analysis tools have actually been applied to development activities associated with new locomotives.
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