Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

What is the relationship between design and reliability according to maintenance and reliability principles?

1. Reliability can be achieved solely through maintenance

2. Reliability and maintainability are design attributes

3. Reliability is secondary to maintenance protocols

4. Reliability cannot be incorporated in the design phase

The correct answer is: Reliability and maintainability are design attributes

The relationship between design and reliability is fundamentally rooted in the concept that reliability and maintainability are intrinsic qualities of a product that need to be integrated during the design phase. When engineers and designers prioritize reliability, they're ensuring that the system or component is built to function consistently under specified conditions for a designated period. This involves considering factors such as the selection of materials, components, and processes that enhance the durability and performance of the system. Designing with reliability in mind helps to minimize failures and reduce the frequency of required maintenance. Essentially, it is more cost-effective to incorporate reliability into the design rather than focus solely on maintenance after the fact. This proactive approach leads to better overall system performance and user satisfaction. The other choices highlight misconceptions about the role of maintenance and design in achieving reliability. Some suggest that reliability can be ensured only through maintenance efforts or downplay its significance in the design phase, which undermines the importance of embedding these characteristics from the outset.