Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Enhancing Quality Assurance Using Virtual Design Engineering: Case Study Of Space Shuttle Challenger, Kouroush Jenab, Scot Paterson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Virtual Design Engineering is an emerging method of increasing quality of systems. Including Virtual Design as a part of the traditional established Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis process greatly enhances hazard and risk analysis while reducing overall costs. In this study these enhancements are explored and expanded upon to discover how overall system quality could be increased and all stakeholders could more accurately understand the hazards involved. Stakeholder misunderstanding or misapplication of hazards is of great importance to complex systems. An illustrative example of how these factors could have changed the outcome of a real-world engineering failure is provided.