How to Talk About MTBF
Abstract
Chris and Fred discuss the pointlessness of the MTBF. This comes from a listener who reached out to complain about how lots of industries enforce the MTBF … but why?
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 802 How to Talk About MTBF
SOR 699 Only have MTBFs
Only have MTBFs
Abstract
Chris and Fred discuss … MTBFs! Fred’s favorite! We (should) know that Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is not reliability. So what do we do if we somehow need to get reliability from nothing but the MTBF.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 688 When is MTBF OK?
When is MTBF OK?
Abstract
Chris and Fred discuss the MTBF … and if and when it can be used … sometimes in reliability engineering. We know that the MTBF is one of the most chronically overused (and misused) so-called ‘reliability’ metrics. But is there scope for it to be used … sometimes?
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 611 Vendor MTBF Claim
Vendor MTBF Claim
Abstract
Philip and Fred discussing a listener question about how to verify vendor claims about reliability.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 591 MTBF, Reliability, and the Curve
MTBF, Reliability, and the Curve
Abstract
Kirk and Fred discussing how testing a small sample size of a new product results on a larger margin of error for the larger population.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 504 Eradication of MTBF
SOR 504 Eradication of MTBF
Abstract
Fred discussing just how bad MTBF and related measures are for our profession.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 422 What Do I Do When the MTBF is Imposed on Me?
What Do I Do When MTBF is Imposed?
Abstract
Chris and Fred discuss what happens when you can’t avoid having the MTBF imposed upon you – even if it is your own organization and not the customer. Perhaps you are told that ‘our competitors quote the MTBF … so we have to as well!’ But you can (sneakily) tailor test data to get whatever MTBF you want. You can make life easy on yourself by not challenging this paradigm (noting that you will most likely get an unhappy customer). But it is almost impossible to apportion MTBF goals to individual designers that even allow the motivated ones to create a reliable system. So what do you do? Listen to this podcast to help you on your reliability journey.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 405 What’s Wrong with MTBF
What’s Wrong with MTBF
Abstract
Carl and Fred discussing the pitfalls of using Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) as a metric for identifying reliability requirements.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 352 Management and MTBF
Management and MTBF
Abstract
Chris and Fred discuss how management teams across many institutions continue to misuse the MTBF while believing they are fluent in the field of reliability (when they clearly aren’t)!
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 316 Can MTBF be Used for Software Reliability
Can MTBF be Used for Software Reliability
Abstract
Adam and Chris Stapelmann discussing metrics for reliability software.
ᐅ Play Episode
SOR 259 A Bit of MTBF Confusion
A Bit of MTBF Confusion
Abstract
Andre and Fred discussing why we do not like using MTBF.
ᐅ Play Episode
What To Do When A Customer Requests MTBF
What To Do When A Customer Requests MTBF
You have carefully crafted a detailed reliability goal including function, environment, probability, and duration, plus apportioned it to critical supplied subsystems and components. Your vendor decides to use MTBF instead.
What can you do? What should you do?
04 – What is MTBF and Why You Shouldn’t Use It
What is MTBF and Why You Shouldn’t Use It
Mean Time Between Failure or MTBF is almost universally recognized in maintenance, reliability, and asset management.
Why is that? And does it actually help an organization improve the reliability of their assets?
The answer is a resounding No.
ᐅ Play Episode
Exploring Alternatives to MTBF
Exploring Alternatives to MTBF
You may already know my position on MTBF.
If not, in short, do not use MTBF at all, ever, in any form. So what should we use instead?
I suggest using reliability, the probability of success over a specific duration.
Let’s discuss what will work for you.