The principal objective of the research is to diagnose the causes and symptoms of company failure and to investigate whether a pattern of failure could be determined to enable management and other interested parties to identify the risks threatening the survival of the company. The current research divides into three main areas 1. Development of a Data Bank and a study of the age structure of failed companies. 2. An application of reliability management techniques to the analysis of company failure data. 3. Identification of causes and symptoms of company failure based on risk management methodology. Data were collected and analysed for approximately 2000 manufacturing companies which had undergone either compulsory or creditors' voluntary liquidation during the period 1970 to 1977. A Data Bank was established with classified information for 16 different groups of companies making up the manufacturing industry. The classification was based on the Standard Industrial Classification. A study of the age structure of each group was carried out and compared with previous studies. Reliability methodology was applied to the analysis of company failure data for the identification of the failure pattern. Best distributions describing failure behaviour of companies were also determined and the validity and application of various statistical distributions were examined. A detailed examination of the histories of some large companies which failed during the period 1970-1977 was carried out. Risks, weaknesses and possible causes and symptoms of failure were investigated and discussed. A list of the causes of failure emerged from the analysis is drawn and the non-financial symptoms are highlighted in a tabular form. Illustrative models for the appraisal of change and identification of causes and symptoms are developed and critical factors discussed. Finally, general conclusions arising out of the research are-presented, along with recommendations for further research and study.

The principal objective of the research is to diagnose the causes and symptoms of company failure and to investigate whether a pattern of failure could be determined to enable management and other interested parties to identify the risks threatening the survival of the company. The current research divides into three main areas 1. Development of a Data Bank and a study of the age structure of failed companies. 2. An application of reliability management techniques to the analysis of company failure data. 3. Identification of causes and symptoms of company failure based on risk management methodology. Data were collected and analysed for approximately 2000 manufacturing companies which had undergone either compulsory or creditors' voluntary liquidation during the period 1970 to 1977. A Data Bank was established with classified information for 16 different groups of companies making up the manufacturing industry. The classification was based on the Standard Industrial Classification. A study of the age structure of each group was carried out and compared with previous studies. Reliability methodology was applied to the analysis of company failure data for the identification of the failure pattern. Best distributions describing failure behaviour of companies were also determined and the validity and application of various statistical distributions were examined. A detailed examination of the histories of some large companies which failed during the period 1970-1977 was carried out. Risks, weaknesses and possible causes and symptoms of failure were investigated and discussed. A list of the causes of failure emerged from the analysis is drawn and the non-financial symptoms are highlighted in a tabular form. Illustrative models for the appraisal of change and identification of causes and symptoms are developed and critical factors discussed. Finally, general conclusions arising out of the research are-presented, along with recommendations for further research and study.

Esta dissertação apresenta a importância do gerenciamento da confiabilidade de um produto durante seu desenvolvimento. Tal gerenciamento consiste em um processo sistemático que resulta no alcance dos requisitos governamentais, do cliente e da empresa. Estudou-se a metodologia de gerenciamento da confiabilidade através do planejamento da confiabilidade meta, alocação ótima de confiabilidade, avaliação e modelagem da confiabilidade, planejamento do crescimento da confiabilidade, controle do crescimento da confiabilidade até a obtenção dos resultados planejados. Através dessa metodologia, em um estudo aplicado contemplando um produto médico-hospitalar, foi possível: (a) identificar os componentes críticos do produto, (b) identificar a lacuna existente entre o valor de confiabilidade no início do projeto quando comparado à meta, (c) planejar o crescimento da confiabilidade ao longo das fases do projeto, (d) realizar melhorias ou reprojetos nos componentes do produto, (e) controlar o crescimento da confiabilidade e (f) alcançar a confiabilidade planejada. Os resultados obtidos foram de um aumento de 24% para 100% na confiabilidade do produto para cinco anos de utilização e de 0% para 83% para dez anos de utilização. Os valores obtidos de confiabilidade superaram os valores planejados, confirmando a eficiência da metodologia adotada. / This study discusses the relevance of Product Reliability Management during the product development phase. It consists of a systematic process that results in achieving the requirements of government regulations, customer satisfaction and companies goals. We studied the Product Reliability Management methodology through five aspects, including: target planning, optimal allocation, evaluation and modeling of product reliability, growth planning, and growth control to achieve the planned results. Using this methodology, applied in a study comprising the analysis of a medical product, it was possible to: (a) identify the critical components of the product (b) identify the gap between the reliability rate at the beginning of the project when compared to the final target (c) plan the growth of reliability throughout the phases of the project (d) make improvements or redesign product components (e) control the growth of reliability and (f) achieve the planned product reliability. The obtained results show an increase of 24% to 100% on five years product reliability, and from 0% to 83% for ten years product reliability. The values of reliability exceeded the planned values, confirming the effectiveness of the Product Reliability Management methodology.

Esta dissertação apresenta a importância do gerenciamento da confiabilidade de um produto durante seu desenvolvimento. Tal gerenciamento consiste em um processo sistemático que resulta no alcance dos requisitos governamentais, do cliente e da empresa. Estudou-se a metodologia de gerenciamento da confiabilidade através do planejamento da confiabilidade meta, alocação ótima de confiabilidade, avaliação e modelagem da confiabilidade, planejamento do crescimento da confiabilidade, controle do crescimento da confiabilidade até a obtenção dos resultados planejados. Através dessa metodologia, em um estudo aplicado contemplando um produto médico-hospitalar, foi possível: (a) identificar os componentes críticos do produto, (b) identificar a lacuna existente entre o valor de confiabilidade no início do projeto quando comparado à meta, (c) planejar o crescimento da confiabilidade ao longo das fases do projeto, (d) realizar melhorias ou reprojetos nos componentes do produto, (e) controlar o crescimento da confiabilidade e (f) alcançar a confiabilidade planejada. Os resultados obtidos foram de um aumento de 24% para 100% na confiabilidade do produto para cinco anos de utilização e de 0% para 83% para dez anos de utilização. Os valores obtidos de confiabilidade superaram os valores planejados, confirmando a eficiência da metodologia adotada. / This study discusses the relevance of Product Reliability Management during the product development phase. It consists of a systematic process that results in achieving the requirements of government regulations, customer satisfaction and companies goals. We studied the Product Reliability Management methodology through five aspects, including: target planning, optimal allocation, evaluation and modeling of product reliability, growth planning, and growth control to achieve the planned results. Using this methodology, applied in a study comprising the analysis of a medical product, it was possible to: (a) identify the critical components of the product (b) identify the gap between the reliability rate at the beginning of the project when compared to the final target (c) plan the growth of reliability throughout the phases of the project (d) make improvements or redesign product components (e) control the growth of reliability and (f) achieve the planned product reliability. The obtained results show an increase of 24% to 100% on five years product reliability, and from 0% to 83% for ten years product reliability. The values of reliability exceeded the planned values, confirming the effectiveness of the Product Reliability Management methodology.

Esta dissertação apresenta a importância do gerenciamento da confiabilidade de um produto durante seu desenvolvimento. Tal gerenciamento consiste em um processo sistemático que resulta no alcance dos requisitos governamentais, do cliente e da empresa. Estudou-se a metodologia de gerenciamento da confiabilidade através do planejamento da confiabilidade meta, alocação ótima de confiabilidade, avaliação e modelagem da confiabilidade, planejamento do crescimento da confiabilidade, controle do crescimento da confiabilidade até a obtenção dos resultados planejados. Através dessa metodologia, em um estudo aplicado contemplando um produto médico-hospitalar, foi possível: (a) identificar os componentes críticos do produto, (b) identificar a lacuna existente entre o valor de confiabilidade no início do projeto quando comparado à meta, (c) planejar o crescimento da confiabilidade ao longo das fases do projeto, (d) realizar melhorias ou reprojetos nos componentes do produto, (e) controlar o crescimento da confiabilidade e (f) alcançar a confiabilidade planejada. Os resultados obtidos foram de um aumento de 24% para 100% na confiabilidade do produto para cinco anos de utilização e de 0% para 83% para dez anos de utilização. Os valores obtidos de confiabilidade superaram os valores planejados, confirmando a eficiência da metodologia adotada. / This study discusses the relevance of Product Reliability Management during the product development phase. It consists of a systematic process that results in achieving the requirements of government regulations, customer satisfaction and companies goals. We studied the Product Reliability Management methodology through five aspects, including: target planning, optimal allocation, evaluation and modeling of product reliability, growth planning, and growth control to achieve the planned results. Using this methodology, applied in a study comprising the analysis of a medical product, it was possible to: (a) identify the critical components of the product (b) identify the gap between the reliability rate at the beginning of the project when compared to the final target (c) plan the growth of reliability throughout the phases of the project (d) make improvements or redesign product components (e) control the growth of reliability and (f) achieve the planned product reliability. The obtained results show an increase of 24% to 100% on five years product reliability, and from 0% to 83% for ten years product reliability. The values of reliability exceeded the planned values, confirming the effectiveness of the Product Reliability Management methodology.