Letter to the Editor—An Analysis of Economic System Subdivision—A Rule for Just Partition

A simple analysis of the factors giving the most economic subdivision of a complex system into units for the purpose of manufacture and test is derived from assumed relations between fabrication and test costs, complexity, and the probability that individual elements are faulty. Expressions are derived for relative system cost, minimum system cost, optimum unit size, and optimum unit yield. The last is shown to be independent of fault probability. The results of the analysis are interpreted and possible applications are considered.