Leveraging Usage Distributions for Reliability Design in Home Appliances

Understanding the load history is fundamental step of Design for Reliability (DfR) approach. Specifically, reliability analysis requires detailed knowledge of both the magnitude and duration/frequency of loads applied to a component. While the magnitude of loads can be measured using sensors or estimated via simulation tools, determining the duration and frequency of loads poses a significant challenge, as it directly influences business-critical decisions such as market positioning and product differentiation. This challenge is particularly relevant in the home appliance industry, where reliability is a key attribute valued by consumers. The increasing availability of high-end connected devices, equipped with integrated hardware connectivity, enables the direct collection of real-world usage data from the field. This paper examines the usage distributions of multiple home appliances, considering the user interaction patterns. A structured approach is presented to analyze field usage data, establishing a connection between usage distributions and Design for Reliability (DfR) strategies.

Keywords: Reliability, Home appliance, Usage distribution.