The routines described in this chapter have primary application in the areas of reliability and life testing, but they may find application in any situation in which time is a variable of interest. Kalbfleisch and Prentice (1980), Elandt‑Johnson and Johnson (1980), Lee (1980), Gross and Clark (1975), Lawless (1982), and Chiang (1968) are general references for discussing the models and methods used here.

Kaplan‑Meier (product‑limit) estimates of the survival distribution in a single population is available through routine KAPMR, and these can be printed using KTBLE. Routine TRNBL computes generalized Kaplan‑Meier estimates. Routine PHGLM computes the parameter estimates in a proportional hazards model. Routine SVGLM fits any of several generalized linear models, and STBLE computes estimates of survival probabilities based on the same models. Routine ACTBL computes and (optionally) prints an actuarial table based either upon a cohort followed over time or a cross‑section of a population.