1. A reliability assessment program (RAP) system of the type including a plurality of data pertaining to a new end item and a database having a plurality of field failure history stored thereon, said field failure history pertaining to an in-field end item, said RAP system comprising: an in-field data source for an in-field end item, said in-field data source having a data collecting system for gathering said field failure history; a processor configured to receive said field failure history for said in-field end item and to receive said data pertaining to said new end item, said processor configured to determine a failure rate of said new end item in accordance with an assessment method selected upon a determination of a degree of similarity between said in-field end item and said new end item; and an output interface configured to provide the failure rate in a readable format.