Accelerated Test Methods for Ground and Aerospace Vehicle Development
I.D. # C0316 Duration 2 Days
Engineers and managers involved with product development are constantly challenged to reduce time to market, minimize warranty costs, and increase product quality. With less and less time for testing, the need for effective accelerated test procedures has never been greater. This course covers the benefits, limitations, processes, and applications of several proven accelerated test methods including accelerated reliability, step stress, FSLT (Full System Life Test), FMVT® (Failure Mode Verification Testing), HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing), and HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screening). A combination of hands-on exercises, team activities, discussion, and lecture are used throughout the course. Participants will also receive a copy of the instructor's book, Accelerated Testing and Validation Management, which includes numerous hands-on exercises and a CD with analytical spreadsheets.

Attendees are requested to bring a calculator to the seminar.
Learning Objectives
By attending this seminar, you will be able to:
  • Choose the accelerated test method for a given application
  • Analyze accelerated testing results
  • Explain how to accelerate one's current test methods
  • Explain how to accelerate one's validation program
  • Adjust accelerated test programs for business situations
  • Describe how product development cycles can be reduced from 18 to 6 months
Who Should Attend
This seminar is designed for anyone involved in product design, life testing, reliability testing and validation for passenger cars, light trucks, heavy duty, off-highway or aerospace vehicles, including reliability engineers, validation engineers, design engineers and their managers. Individuals who need to achieve shorter time to market or higher quality through custom test plans will find this course to be especially valuable. Purchasers or users of testing or engineering services will also find this course to be valuable. There are no prerequisites for this course although a technical background is helpful.
Seminar Content
  • Statistical model for reliability testing
    • Fundamentals of a statistical reliability test
    • Effects of automotive supply chain on sample size and duration
    • Common pitfalls
    • Examine and solve two or three real life statistical data set problems
  • Key Accelerated Tests, Terms, and Methods
    • Definitions: Information Goal, Basic Method, Limitations
    • Full System Life Test (FSLT)
    • Step Stress
    • Accelerated Reliability Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT)
    • Failure Mode Verification Test (FMVT) -- Development; Warranty; Life Prediction
  • Test Acceleration vs. Program Acceleration
    • Advantages of accelerating a full validation program compared to an individual test
    • Examples of time/cost saved on individual test acceleration
    • Examples of time/cost saved on program acceleration
  • Hybrid Acceleration Methods
    • Using information goals of individual test methods to combine and leverage tests
    • Hands-on team exercise: combine test methods to solve a particular information need
  • Decision and selection process
    • How to choose which method
    • Considering position in supply chain
    • Considering business model and product type
    • Considering development phase
    • Considering component, subsystem, and system level testing
    • Hands on team exercise: selecting optimal testing solution for several scenarios
Instructor(s): Alexander (Alex) J. Porter
Alexander J. Porter is the Chief Engineer for Programs, Performance, and Durability for Intertek, and has been with the company since 1992. Since 1996, he has been developing accelerated testing methods for mechanical components and systems. Mr. Porter has three patents relating to accelerated testing equipment and has authored over 40 articles and technical papers on accelerated testing. Alex is the author of the book Accelerated Testing and Validation, Elsevier 2004. His work in the past has included implementation of FEA in a laboratory setting and development of a thermal management system for an advanced data acquisition package developed by NASA's Drydon Flight Research Facility. Alex is a member of SAE and IEEE. He holds a B.S. in aircraft engineering and an M.S. in mechanical engineering, both from Western Michigan University.
Testimonial
"This course provided some unique vehicle development techniques aimed at reducing time and discovery of product weakpoints."
Jakin Wilson
Engineer
Toyota Technical Center

"This seminar was a very good overview on testing methods, their advantages, pitfalls and limitations."
Tim Gonzales
Design Engineer
Betts Spring Company

"I found this seminar comprehensive and useful. Many items unexpectedly helped me in other areas."
Steve Johns
Validation Engineer
PPG

"This is definitely the course to help you figure out what you want your reliability testing program to do."
James Sues
Test Engineer
Freedman Seating Company

"You are only as good as your testing regimen."
Steve Hojnowski
Sr. Tech. Manager R&D
Jeld-Wen

"This program gave me ideas on how I can develop my own test facilities to a more efficient and cost driven unit."
Richard Stefansson
Manager, Testing and Laboratory
Volvo Penta

"Best testing course that I am actually going to go back to work and begin applying immediately."
Daryl Williams
Test Engineer
Charles Machine Works

"Very informative seminar that will help me understand accelerated test methods and utilize during my career."
Mark Work
Test Engineer
Panasonic

Also available as an SAe-Learning program delivered online!
Accelerated Test Methods for Ground and Aerospace Vehicle Development e-Seminar.
Fees: $1335 SAE Members*: $1065 - $1205
* The appropriate SAE Member discount will be applied through the Registration process.  Discounts vary according to level of membership: Elite Member 20%; Premium Member 15%; Classic Member 10%
CEU 1.3