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Improving System Reliability by the Elimination of a Class of Design Errors

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Synthesis and Analysis Methods for Safety and Reliability Studies

Abstract

This paper considers a hypothesis on the relationship between system design methods and system reliability. It sets out to discuss a class of human errors which affect system reliability and are committed, or indirectly caused, by system designers.

It defines the concept of ‘perceivable’ systems and illustrates how perceivability reduces the frequency of occurrence of human errors. A method for the design of perceivable systems is then described. The method is based on a set of principles, which are summarised in the paper, and on a set of detailed guidelines, which are referenced. The same principles can be applied to the design of hardware, software and management systems; different guidelines are required for different classes of systems.

Finally, comments are made on experience gained in using the method by members of staff and postgraduate students in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Kingston Polytechnic.

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© 1980 Plenum Press, New York

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Rzevski, G. (1980). Improving System Reliability by the Elimination of a Class of Design Errors. In: Apostolakis, G., Garribba, S., Volta, G. (eds) Synthesis and Analysis Methods for Safety and Reliability Studies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3036-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3036-3_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3038-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3036-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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