Why You Should Avoid MTBF
podcast episode with speaker Fred Schenkelberg
In the past two months, I’ve received a few questions concerning why I recommend avoiding using MTBF or similar metrics. I’m also moving the articles I and others wrote on the topic from NoMTBF.com to Accendo Reliability. So, the topic of MTBF has been on my mind.
This morning’s email included a question on why I was so against using MTBF. This event is my answer.
MTBF is a point estimate, and that is not an issue. What is a problem is using just MTBF leads to deplorable decisions and costs you and your organization dearly. The misunderstanding and misuse of MTBF and the means to estimate it are other reasons to avoid its use.
In this event, let’s examine MTBF and how much trouble this simple metric causes.
This Accendo Reliability webinar was originally broadcast on 8 August 2023.
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To view the recorded video, visit the webinar page.
Related content:
What’s Wrong with MTBF episode
Only Have MTBFs episode
Perils of MTBF article
The Evil Ways of MTBF with Fred Schenkelberg episode
How to Talk About MTBF episode
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.
What To Do When A Customer Requests MTBF
what specific steps you can take to help your customer actually use your the stated reliability goal and not MTBF.
What You Need to Know About MTBF
No time to understand MTBF, and your organization relies on the reliability of its products, you are almost certainly in trouble.
What to Do About MTBF Use
The proper and improver responses to someone asking about or requesting MTBF information. Some to avoid and some to use regularly.
How Do I Do MTBF Testing?
If you want to learn more about MTBF testing and how it might (or might not) work … then view this recording.
Why You Should Avoid MTBF
This morning’s email included a question on why I was so against using MTBF. This episode is my answer and why one should avoid MTBF
The MTBF and Modeling System Reliability
The Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) appears in lots of textbooks and standards, so it must be really important … right? Well, not really.
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