Reliability prediction for electronic components: Difference between revisions

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{{multiple issues|one source=February 2011|orphan=February 2011|refimprove=February 2011|wikify=February 2011}}

A prediction of reliability is an important element in the process of selecting equipment for use by [[telecommunications]] service providers and other buyers of [[electronic equipment]]. Reliability is a measure of the frequency of equipment failures as a function of time. Reliability has a major impact on maintenance and repair costs and on the continuity of service.<ref>Terry Donovan, Senior Systems Engineer Telcordia Technologies. Member of Optical Society of America, IEEE, "Automated Reliability Prediction," [http://telecom-info.telcordia.com/site-cgi/ido/docs.cgi?ID=SEARCH&DOCUMENT=SR-332&, SR-332]Issue 3", January 2011; "Automated Reliability Prediction (ARPP)," [http://telecom-info.telcordia.com/site-cgi/ido/docs.cgi?ID=SEARCH&DOCUMENT=FD-ARPP-01&, Issue FD-ARPP-01]11", January 2011</ref>

Every product has a [[failure rate]], λ which is the number of units failing per unit time. This failure rate changes throughout the life of the product. It is the manufacturer’s aim to ensure that product in the “[[infant mortality]] period” does not get to the customer. This leaves a product with a useful life period during which failures occur randomly i.e., λ is constant, and finally a wear-out period, usually beyond the products useful life, where λ is increasing.