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A measure of functional degradation or its surrogate is more informative than attribute data such as failure time when improving designs or developing meaningful tests. This paper delineates the advantages and disadvantages of using degradation data, and the situations under which one should or should not use degradation analysis. A comparison has been done between degradation testing, testing to failure, and bogey testing. The steps necessary to apply degradation analysis techniques to product design have been described: determine scope of the project, plan degradation test, collect data, analyze data, and document results. A case study has been used to demonstrate the whole process of degradation analysis techniques.

Performing life tests on products in order to guarantee quality is a necessity. No systematic procedure is available for developing life tests for components, subsystems, and systems in order to minimize the cost. Life tests are developed uniquely from one among components, subsystems, and systems without incorporating a systems approach toward developing the tests. To guarantee that proper tests have been planned in a cost effective way for components, subsystems, and systems a methodology is required. This paper has proposed a cost effective strategy of developing life tests for systems.