Reliability in Manufacturing - Research Paper Example

Problems experienced in hardware that results to alterations in the data path or storage content issues to problems or disruptions in the way the software works. Nonetheless, software does not wear out, crack, deform or age. Additionally, software does not have colour, shape, and it is intangible and invisible. Notably, a significant quality characteristic of a computer system is the extent to which it can be relied upon to carry out its envisioned role. The prediction, evaluation and the enhancement of this characteristic have been a worry to users and designers of computers.

Software is fundamentally a tool for converting a distinct set of outputs. Once the software functions correctly, it does not imply that that software will always run correctly. In the past, there has been numerous tragedies and turmoil caused by software. Notably, software can make resolutions but they can be sometimes unreliable, just as human beings. For example, the British destroyer Sheffield was destroyed because the radar recognized an incoming missile as "friendly." The defense system mistakenly made a decision that caused much damage and harm.

Additionally, the defense system was modified to the extent that it can detect and mistakenly identify the rising moon as a missile. Software also has minimal imperceptible errors that can result to a tragedy. For example, in February 1991, a chopping error during the Gulf War that missed 0.000000095 second in accuracy in every 10th second made the patriot missile unsuccessful in intercepting a speeding missile that killed 28 people. However, fixing the glitches in the software does not make the software dependable.

Quite the reverse, novel problems may emerge. For example, in 1991, the local Californian telephone systems stopped after altering three lines of code in a signaling program. On the other hand, it is notable to acknowledge that perfectly running software may break if the environment is altered. It is