Sample sizes for estimating the Weibull hazard function from censored samples

摘要

An important part of planning a life test is the specification of the sample size needed to achieve a specified degree of precision from the experiment. The hazard function is frequently used as a decision criterion, especially in replacement decisions. It is shown how to choose the sample size needed to estimate a point on the hazard function with a specified degree of precision. An easy-to-use graph that can be used with the Weibull distribution and a life test that will be terminated after a pre-specified amount of time are provided. How to apply the methodology with other time-to-failure distributions and other kinds of life tests is described.