Reliability engineers perform the strategic tasks that ensure plant operations are carried out efficiently and effectively. They identify and manage risks that may cause operational safety issues or equipment performance. They develop analysis methods collected from data and use insights from their analysis to develop a strategy for effective scheduling of maintenance activities. This helps ensure the plant maximizes production without sacrificing the quality of products and operations safety.
Reliability engineers manage equipment and monitor it for risks within its entire life cycle. They develop FMEA processes for new or existing equipment and plan the required testing and performance evaluations to assess potential risks to production and safety with the equipment. They provide solutions to recurring failures by performing tests and identifying corrective actions. They perform statistical data analysis to predict and minimize losses and need a degree in engineering, statistics, mathematics, similar fields, and reliability engineering certification.