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Failure Rate Formula:
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Failure rate (λ) is a fundamental reliability metric that represents the frequency at which a system or component fails per unit of time. It is commonly used in reliability engineering, maintenance planning, and quality control to assess the performance and reliability of systems.
The calculator uses the failure rate formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the average failure rate over the observation period, providing a measure of reliability performance.
Details: Calculating failure rate is essential for reliability analysis, maintenance scheduling, warranty planning, and system design improvements. It helps organizations predict future failures and optimize maintenance strategies.
Tips: Enter the total number of failures observed and the total operating time in hours. Both values must be valid (failures ≥ 0, operating time > 0).
Q1: What units are used for failure rate?
A: Failure rate is typically expressed as failures per hour, but can also be per thousand hours or million hours depending on the application.
Q2: How does failure rate relate to MTBF?
A: Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is the reciprocal of failure rate: MTBF = 1/λ when failure rate is constant.
Q3: What is considered a good failure rate?
A: This depends on the industry and application. Critical systems require very low failure rates, while consumer products may have higher acceptable rates.
Q4: Can failure rate change over time?
A: Yes, failure rates often follow a "bathtub curve" - high initially (infant mortality), then stable, then increasing as components wear out.
Q5: How can failure rate data be used?
A: For reliability predictions, maintenance planning, spare parts inventory, warranty analysis, and design improvements.