Prof. Cher Ming Tan

Abstract:

The global imperative to achieve environmental sustainability demands not only the advancement of cleaner energy sources and eco-friendly technologies but also the assurance of their long-term reliability. Reliability engineering offers a critical framework to ensure that sustainable systems—from renewable energy infrastructures to electronic devices and green transportation—perform consistently under diverse and often harsh environmental conditions. By employing physics-of-failure models, accelerated life testing, and statistical reliability analysis, engineers can identify degradation mechanisms such as thermal cycling, corrosion, and material fatigue that threaten the integrity of sustainable technologies.

Reliability engineering also plays a vital role in reducing environmental waste. Products with longer, predictable lifespans diminish the need for premature replacement, thereby minimizing resource extraction, energy consumption, and electronic waste. This is especially crucial given the rapid increase in global reliance on electronic products. From 2010 to 2022, global e-waste generation more than doubled and is projected to reach 82 million tons by 2030—making it one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. Poor e-waste management practices result in externalized costs of approximately US$78 billion annually, impacting both human health and the environment.

Despite its importance, current reliability engineering practices face significant challenges. One major issue is the necessity of producing a physical product before testing its reliability. If the product proves unreliable, discarding it contributes to waste, and manufacturers—having already incurred production costs—often still bring it to market. Additionally, reliability testing to estimate product lifespan can be time-consuming and expensive, leading many manufacturers to avoid rigorous reliability assessments.

A promising solution to these challenges is the implementation of design-in reliability. For this approach to be effective, the underlying physics of failure must be clearly understood, and methods for integrating this knowledge into product design must be established. Unfortunately, current reliability engineering methodologies do not adequately support this integration. This presentation will detail the limitations of existing reliability practices.

To address these gaps, a new discipline—Reliability Science—will be introduced. Developed by the speaker, this field will be illustrated through verified practical examples, including applications in high-power LED lamps, lithium-ion batteries, low-earth orbit satellites, and timely maintenance of engineering systems. The presentation will also explore how Reliability Science can contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability.