A fortune in failure

For Michael Pecht, failure is life.

The engineering professor is a specialist in evaluating reliability in electronic systems — how they will fail, how to fix them and when the fix will be needed. It's called "reliability engineering," and it's needed for everything from laptops and wind turbines to military systems and spaceships. Pecht was inducted into the Clark School Innovation Hall of Fame yesterday for his pioneering work in the field.

Clark School of Engineering spokeswoman Melissa Corley said Pecht "basically created" the concept of reliability engineering, allowing organizations like the auto industry, the military and NASA to better test their products.

Pecht was the only honoree at the annual ceremony, which has previously featured the inductions of the creator of the modern barcode and one of the major contributors to the invention of satellite radio. Corley said inductees are nominated by faculty, staff and students and are chosen by a selection committee based on their contributions to engineering and connection to the engineering school.

Mechanical engineering professor Abhijit Dasgupta said Pecht has used an effective management style to "actually [make] things happen," figuring out solutions to problems others in the field thought were too complex to engineer.

Dasgupta said supporting innovators like Pecht is essential to maintaining an "edge" in an increasingly globalized environment of scientific competition — and that the future isn't in being good at what exists, but in exploring new areas of engineering like Pecht's work in reliability.

"[He's] able to look at complex problems and figure out what kind of engineering solutions will solve that problem," Dasgupta said.

University Vice President for Research Patrick O'Shea said it was important to recognize innovators like Pecht because they not only create knowledge, but also apply it to help people's lives.

"I think it emphasizes the importance for the practical outcomes of engineering," O'Shea said, adding the award wasn't just for "research for the sake of research," but a recognition of a concrete technological impact on society.

O'Shea said it was important for the university not just to pass on knowledge, but to create it and apply it to doing good things in society. Pecht, he said, was doing just that. He engages his students, O'Shea said, and makes sure they are "not just being entertained as tourists," but "educated as explorers."

Mechanical engineering doctoral student Gilbert Haddad said an internship with Pecht is what brought Haddad back to the university to get another degree; Pecht is now his doctoral advisor.

"As a professor, he's shaping scientists and leaders," Haddad said. "He has so many success stories."

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