MAINTAINABILITY PREDICTION: METHODS AND RESULTS.

Abstract : Maintainability prediction for electronic equipment is reviewed in terms of (a) desirable attributes of maintainability criteria, (b) utility as an important characteristic of prediction methods, (c) the major prediction schemes, (d) practical criteria for selecting a procedure to use, and (e) methodological weaknesses in current em pirical methods. Six different approaches to maintainability prediction are reviewed. These include the timesummation schemes developed by Federal Electric Corporation and Aeronautical Radio Incorporated, and the checklist procedures developed by American Institute for Research and Radio Corporation of America. Important contributions of each of these methods are noted. Weaknesses of the different approaches are discussed. Major problems for all the predictive schemes reviewed are adequate treatment of individual differences in technician proficiency, identification of predictive variables with more generality, more accurate prediction in early design stages, and utility for management decisions required by maintainability estimates. (Author)