Component Reliability vs Cost
Match component assurance grade to criticality and failure consequence, concentrating high-cost screening on critical paths and using architectural protection elsewhere.
CyberTRIZ analysis · Space contradiction RMA012 · one of 8,235 worked contradictions published by CyberTRIZ.AI
Regulations
Business Context
Space-qualified components with extensive screening, characterization, traceability, and flight heritage can reduce uncertainty but may carry substantial procurement costs and long lead times. Applying the highest assurance level to every component can increase program cost without providing equivalent mission-level reliability. Conversely, selecting components primarily for lower cost can introduce unacceptable failure risks.
Space TRIZ Resolution
Component assurance should reflect function criticality, environmental exposure, failure consequence, and architectural protection. High-assurance components can be concentrated in critical functions, while suitable commercial or lower-cost components may be used where redundancy, screening, shielding, fault detection, or replacement at system level provides adequate protection.
Applicable TRIZ Principles
Principle 3 – Local Quality applies different assurance levels according to component criticality.
Principle 11 – Beforehand Cushioning protects higher-risk components through architectural safeguards.
Principle 40 – Composite Materials combines component classes and protection strategies within one reliability architecture.
Expected Outcome
Maintained mission reliability
Lower unnecessary component cost
Greater technology selection flexibility
Better allocation of assurance resources
Decision Indicators
Early indicators include:
Maximum component assurance is specified regardless of criticality.
Component costs increase substantially without measurable mission-risk reduction.
Lower-cost technologies are rejected without system-level reliability analysis.
Procurement lead times become major schedule constraints.
Architectural protection is overlooked during component selection.