This International Standard specifies requirements and gives guidelines for the exposure and removal of weaknesses in hardware and software items for the purpose of reliability growth. It applies when the product specification calls for a reliability growth programme of equipment (electronic, electromechanical and mechanical hardware as well as software) or when it is known that the design is unlikely to meet the requirements without improvement. A statement of the basic concepts is followed by descriptions of the management, planning, testing (laboratory or field), failure analysis and corrective techniques required. Mathematical modelling, to estimate the level of reliability achieved, is outlined briefly.