Introduction

A technical product is characterised by a high level of functionality, good usability and an attractive design, as well as a high level of technical reliability. The technical reliability of a product can be analysed in every phase of the product development process (concept, series development and production) as well as in the field on the basis of data, represented in models and also assessed and influenced on the basis of this.Therefore, the focus of this book is on data analytics with the aid of probabilistics, statistics, and modeling for mapping and assessing the technical reliability of a product or a production process. The presented methods of technical reliability, which are mostly located in statistics, can be used for data analysis in all phases of the product development process and in the field.Both the theories of the methods of technical reliability are presented and the application of the same is illustrated by numerous case studies. The application substantiates the methods of technical reliability. Special emphasis is given to the manual comprehensibility of the methods shown (with the exception of those approaches that require a numerical solution), in order to provide the reader with a basic approach as well as an in-depth understanding. Within this chapter, the structure of the book is explained and an outline of the historical development of the discipline of technical reliability is given.