Optimal design of variables switch-based sampling scheme for verifying Weibull distributed product lifetimes

Area of Science:

• Quality Control
• Reliability Engineering
• Statistical Process Control

Background:

• Product reliability during warranty is crucial for cost control and brand reputation.
• Variables acceptance sampling (VAS) plans using the lifetime performance index (LPI) are vital for product lifetime verification.
• Existing LPI-based variables quick-switch sampling (VQSS) systems improve efficiency but have limited applicability by only adjusting acceptance criteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel LPI-based VQSS system that enhances sampling efficiency and applicability.
• To introduce a VQSS mechanism capable of altering the required number of failures for life testing.
• To improve upon existing LPI-based VQSS systems by offering superior discriminatory power and cost-effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Development of an LPI-based VQSS system incorporating a failure number adjustment mechanism.
• Comparison of the proposed VQSS system against existing methods in terms of discriminatory power and cost-effectiveness.
• Application of the proposed method to a case study involving electric vehicle battery lifetime verification.

Main Results:

• The proposed LPI-based VQSS system demonstrates superior discriminatory power compared to existing methods.
• The new system offers moderate cost-effectiveness while maintaining high reliability standards.
• The case study validates the practical applicability and effectiveness of the proposed lifetime verification method.

Conclusions:

• The enhanced LPI-based VQSS system provides a more versatile and powerful tool for product lifetime verification.
• Adjusting the number of failures in VQSS plans offers significant advantages over solely modifying acceptance criteria.
• The proposed method is practical and beneficial for industries requiring robust product quality assurance, such as the electric vehicle sector.