EDITORIAL TEACHING TESTING
Any new engineering product or system must be experiments, data analysis, and the appropriate test and measurement methods and equipment, as well capable of working in the expected range of applications. It must be reliable and durable in the as of the relevant standards and specifications. It is also necessary to take account of technology aspects expected environments, and often in unexpected ones, and it will probably have to comply with (software, electronic/electrical and mechanical hardware), and the testing and risk aspects of requirements for safety, compatibility and performance. The various components and sub-assemblies components and sub-systems from external suppliers.
Testing is important, expensive, and challenging. must also be assured to be reliable, durable and compliant. Experienced engineers know that the It is also an aspect of engineering that is often shrouded in ignorance, especially when managers challenges presented by modern engineering design are so severe that such assurance cannot realistically seek to reduce short-term costs. Economising on testing can be very risky, but it is difficult or be provided by analysis alone. They know that testing is an essential activity in new product devel-impossible to forecast or quantify the benefits with confidence or precision. opment, and that an untested design is very unlikely to lead to a successful product.
Why, then, is testing not taught as an integral part of every engineering degree course? Why do Likewise, manufactured products and systems must be tested, to ensure that they perform correctly nearly all books on engineering management avoid the topic altogether? Why are there no good general and that they are free of defects that could be introduced during the manufacturing processes.
books on testing? The best engineering managers understand the problems, and they work to ensure Despite testing, many new products and systems still fail as a result of design and process errors, so that experience is applied. Those who teach engineers should help by ensuring that such vital know-the design and management of the test programme is crucial.
ledge is on their curricula. Design and management of engineering testing demands knowledge of stress applications, failure physics, stress acceleration methods, design of