Stability

From Elsmar Cove Quality Assurance and Business Standards Wiki

Stability -

1. The state or quality of being stable, especially:
   1. Resistance to change, deterioration, or displacement.
   2. Constancy of character or purpose; steadfastness.
   3. Reliability; dependability.
2. The ability of an object, such as a ship or aircraft, to maintain equilibrium or resume its original, upright position after displacement, as by the sea or strong winds.
3. Roman Catholic Church. A vow committing a Benedictine monk to one monastery for life.

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Elsmar Cove forum threads which address Stability in Processes, Gage R&R (Measurement Systems Analysis) evaluations and related topics

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Various Definitions of stability on the Web:

the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast a stable order

constancy: the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation; "early mariners relied on the constancy of the trade winds" http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Stability is the ability of a material to remain unchanged in the presence of heat, moisture or air. An unstable material may decompose, polymerize, burn or explode under normal environmental conditions. Any indication that the material is unstable gives warning that special handling and storage precautions may be necessary. http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.html

Stability of a thermistor is the ability of a thermistor to retain specified characteristics after being subjected to designated environmental or electrical test conditions. http://www.thermometrics.com/htmldocs/glossary.htm

the degree of resistance of a layer of air to vertical motion. http://www.pnl.gov/atmos_sciences/Cdw/Glossary.html

One of the phases of a population's life cycle. The population's size remains roughly constant, þuctuating around some average density. Also, the ability of a community to persist unchanged. http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookglossS.html

The quality of paper to maintain its original size when it undergoes pressure and moisture changes. http://www.millerbrosengraving.com/resources/glossary.html

Stability is best defined as the opposite of instability, which is the occurrence of large structural deformations which are not the result of material failure. http://urban.arch.virginia.edu/~km6e/references/glossary/struc-glossary.html

In wireless, the accuracy to which the operating frequency is maintained through temperature changes and over time. http://www.kareoke.com/glossary/microphone_glossary_of_terms.htm

It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all aspects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel. http://www.shippersforum.com/ShippingTerms.htm

A higher degree of reliability and resilience may be possible as network reliability improves. http://www.aqlogic.com/enc/Voice_over_IP

means structural stabillity. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part061/part061-0002.html

The ability of an instrument or sensor to maintain a consistent output when a constant input is applied. http://www.omega.com/literature/transactions/volume1/glossary.html

Producing the same outcome from a given set of ballots each time it is counted. http://lorrie.cranor.org/pubs/diss/node1.html

Ecosystems tend toward stability. If not, trees would grow at angles to the earth, deer populations would spread like wildfire across the globe, and mountains unimpeded by erosion or gravity would thrust into space. http://www.nps.gov/grsa/resources/curriculum/glossary.htm

The tendency to return to normative behavior, such as an equilibrium or a limit cycle in a mathematical model. http://www.esse.ou.edu/glossary_st.html

the capacity of an object to return to equilibrium or to its original position after being displaced http://www.geocities.com/daretofly2001/glossary.html

the condition of a body or system which responds to a specified disturbance by opposition and suppression. Often used in meteorology to refer to convective stability in particular. http://www.advancedforecasting.com/weathereducation/weatherglossary.html

The ability of a component, circuit, or system to maintain a fixed level of operation within specified tolerances under varying external conditions. Changing conditions include voltage, frequency, temperature, and longevity. See RELIABILITY. http://www.nuhorizons.com/Glossary/BasicElecConcepts.html

Remaining consistent and steady. Joint stability: Integrity of the entire joint. http://www.methodfitness.com/fitness_glossary_s.shtml

The extent to which a product retains, within specified limits, and throughout its period of storage and use (ie, its shelf-life), the same properties and characteristics that it possessed at the time of its manufacture. http://ncp.aspenjournals.org/cgi/content/full/20/2/281

Refers to the ability of a power supply's control circuit to maintain control and produce a constant output voltage as load and environmental conditions fluctuate. http://www.elpac.com/resources/glossary.html

A measure of reliability, known as the test-retest approach. It is often used when alternate forms of tests are not available. Tests that yield the same results over time are said to be stable, and hence, reliable. http://www.measurementexperts.org/instrument/term_pocket_terms.asp

Solution to a problem is stable if a small modification in the conditions of the problem does not change the solution too much. How much is much depends of course on the problem. http://math-terms.org/s.html

The ability of an Asphalt Concrete mixture to resist Deformation from imposed loads. Stability is dependent upon both internal friction and cohesion. http://www.ces.clemson.edu/arts/glossary.html

The force that holds a vessel upright or returns it to upright if keeled over. Weights on the lower hold increase stability. A vessel is stiff if it has high stability, tender if it has low stability. http://www.oocl.com/glossary/m_to_s.htm

The capacity of a vessel to return to its original position after having been displaced by external forces. The stability of a vessel depends on the meta-centric height. http://www.eyefortransport.com/glossary/st.shtml