Any object put through its paces in day-to-day use will inevitably fail, but the question for manufacturers is how long they can ensure reliability. Wired reports on how companies such as Ford go to great lengths to research and stress test the materials they use to construct their products to try and avoid failures. Longevity is key, but trying to simulate long-term use for certain parts in the real world comes with its own problems. Ultimately, the goal is to test everything using computer software, with the early stages of Vextec modelling helping to accurately simulate the life of parts and components.