5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Worst Case Analysis Company

A worst-case analysis can make or break a product or system design. The test runs the system through a series of worst-case scenarios to see if it can handle moving forward to production or needs to go back for adjustments. Just as crucial as the actual analysis is the decision of what worst case circuit analysis services company to choose. The right company will treat your product or system as their own and run it through a rigorous analysis to provide you the best possible results. Taking your time when choosing a company can help you feel confident in your decision. Here are the top questions to ask when hiring a worst-case analysis company.

What services do you provide?

Not every worst-case scenario company is the same. Some companies only perform worst-case scenarios, while others have a wide variety of other tests and services. You might want a company that focuses just on worst case scenarios so you know they are totally focused on your project. Or you might want a broader company that can also provide other services and take your product in a new direction.

What is your experience?

Some companies that offer worst-case circuit analysis services focus on certain products or industries and are very experienced in those spaces. If you have an aerospace circuit, you likely want to hire a worst-case scenario company that is experienced in aerospace circuits and is very familiar with the tests that need to be run and the requirements that need to be met. Ask potential companies about their areas of expertise and how many analyses they’ve done that are similar to yours. You’ll also want to find out about the experience level of their employees and how long the company has been in business, which will impact their ability to handle the challenges of worst-case analysis.

What analysis method do you use?

There are multiple ways to perform a worst-case analysis. Some companies may specialize in a certain method, while others may be open to multiple methods. The best initial approach to a worst-case analysis is an extreme value analysis, which also provides a high confidence of the results. Root-Sum-Squared, or RSS, offers a more realistic estimate of worst-case performance, but it requires assumptions that could lead to inaccurate results. The last method is Monte Carlo Analysis, which provides a very realistic estimate of worst-case performance and additional information to support the risk assessment. The downside is that it can take a long time and be very complicated. Clearly, the method that the company uses impacts how quickly it can provide results and the accuracy of those results. Be sure to ask which method is used so you can adjust your timeline and expectations accordingly.

What are your rates?

Each company has different charges for a worst-case analysis. It’s helpful to know exactly how much the services will cost before you sign a contract, especially if you are looking to stick to a certain budget. Ask each company about their rates and what is included. Some companies have a flat rate that includes an entire service package, while others offer a la carte services with different rates for each aspect of the analysis. Asking each company for their rates also helps you compare companies evenly, especially if they charge for different things.

What is your timeline?

Before you choose a worst-case analysis company, you should have a good idea of how long it will take them to provide results. The speed of their work depends both on the workload, which analysis method is used, and the type of system or product that is being tested. Some companies are able to turn around results fairly quickly, while others may take more time.

These five questions to ask a potential worst-case analysis company will help provide you with the best information and point you in the right direction for a decision. Worst-case analysis is crucial to the success of your project, so take your time to make the right decision.