The reliability of equipment: Yesterday’s research and tomorrow’s requirements

The UK Air Ministry’s Operational Research OR studies of the maintenance of airborne weapon systems in the immediate postwar decade were wide ranging but largely unreported outside the service. The author, a participant, recalls some experiences and the main findings of that research and compares these with the subsequent extensive and widespread literature reporting the development of terotechnology in production and other systems. The author speculates on the applicability of the work to the design and operational effectiveness of modern computer controlled automation and the organisational requirements to achieve economic operations.