1. What is Failure Rate?

Failure rate (λ) is a measure of reliability that quantifies how frequently failures occur in a system or component over a specified period of time. It is commonly used in reliability engineering and quality control.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the failure rate formula:

Where:

• \( \lambda \) — Failure rate (failures per unit time)
• Number of Failures — Total number of failures observed
• Total Time — Observation period in hours

Explanation: This formula provides the average failure rate over the observation period, representing the frequency of failures per hour of operation.

3. Importance of Failure Rate Calculation

Details: Failure rate calculation is essential for predicting system reliability, planning maintenance schedules, determining warranty costs, and improving product design and quality.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of failures observed and the total observation time in hours. Both values must be positive numbers, with time greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What units are used for failure rate?
A: Failure rate is typically expressed in 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.

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" with high initial rates, low steady-state rates, and increasing rates as components age.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides an average failure rate. For more precise reliability analysis, statistical methods and larger sample sizes are recommended.