How do I specify multiple starting estimates for multiple reliability distributions?

When you specify starting estimates for your parameters, you must enter them for each distribution of failures and each parameter that you want to estimate.

Starting estimates are assigned by failure mode, and then by variable. Usually, the first column should contain the starting estimates of failure mode 1, variable 1; the second column should contain the starting estimates of failure mode 1, variable 2, and so on. If variable 2 does not have failure mode 1, the second column contains the starting estimates of failure mode 2, variable 1.

Each variable, group level, and failure mode represents a unique distribution that requires estimates in one single column or in separate columns.

When you have	Enter
A single variable with a single failure mode	Enter one column that contains starting estimates for each parameter of your distribution.
A single variable with multiple failure modes	Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all failure modes. Enter a column of starting estimates for each failure mode. If there are three failure modes, enter three columns of starting estimates.

When you have

Enter

A single variable with a single failure mode

Enter one column that contains starting estimates for each parameter of your distribution.

A single variable with multiple failure modes

Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all failure modes.

Enter a column of starting estimates for each failure mode. If there are three failure modes, enter three columns of starting estimates.

When you have	Enter
Two or more variables, each with a single failure mode	Enter a single column to use the same starting estimates for all of the variables. Enter one column of starting estimates for each variable.
Two or more variables, each with multiple failure modes	Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all variables and failure modes. Enter a column of starting estimates for each failure mode of each variable. If there are two variables with two failure modes, enter four columns of starting estimates.

When you have

Enter

Two or more variables, each with a single failure mode

Enter a single column to use the same starting estimates for all of the variables.

Enter one column of starting estimates for each variable.

Two or more variables, each with multiple failure modes

Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all variables and failure modes.

Enter a column of starting estimates for each failure mode of each variable. If there are two variables with two failure modes, enter four columns of starting estimates.

When you have	Enter
A grouping variable with several group levels and a single failure mode	Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all of the group levels. Enter one column of starting estimates for each group level. If there are four group levels, enter four columns that contain starting estimates.
A grouping variable with several group levels and multiple failure modes	Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all of the group levels and failure modes. Enter one column of starting estimates for each failure mode of each group level. If there are two group levels with three failure modes each, enter six columns of starting estimates.

When you have

Enter

A grouping variable with several group levels and a single failure mode

Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all of the group levels.

Enter one column of starting estimates for each group level. If there are four group levels, enter four columns that contain starting estimates.

A grouping variable with several group levels and multiple failure modes

Enter a single column with one set of starting estimates to use the same estimates for all of the group levels and failure modes.

Enter one column of starting estimates for each failure mode of each group level. If there are two group levels with three failure modes each, enter six columns of starting estimates.

Note

Do not enter starting estimates for failure modes that you have eliminated from the analysis.