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 405 What’s Wrong with MTBF
Search Results for: MTBF
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
A Series of Unfortunate MTBF Assumptions
A Series of Unfortunate MTBF Assumptions
The calculation of MTBF results in a larger number if we make a series of MTBF assumptions. We just need more time in the operating hours and fewer failures in the count of failures.
While we really want to understand the reliability performance of field units, we often make a series of small assumptions that impact the accuracy of MTBF estimates.
Here are just a few of these MTBF assumptions that I’ve seen and in some cases nearly all of them with one team. Reliability data has useful information is we gather and treat it well. [Read more…]
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
Why can’t we shake off MTBF?
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is one of the most well know reliability metrics. 
But to anyone who works with reliability, it seems like it was developed by some evil anti-reliability mastermind to undermine the possibility of connecting reliability to anything or anyone.
Mean Time Between Failure means what?
- It’s the time between two failures? –
- It’s when the first failure occurs? –
- It’s how long the product is good for?
- It seems way to big to be a reasonable goal! “How can an air pump have an MTBF of 4 million hours? That’s ridiculous these things are only supposed to last for five years!
This is the process of understanding everyone goes through as they are introduced to MTBF, formally or informally. [Read more…]
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?
What To Do When A Customer Requests MTBF
An Accendo Reliability recorded webinar event
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
II. B. 2. b. Statistical Intervals – MTBF Estimates
Exploring Alternatives to MTBF
An Accendo Reliability recorded webinar event
You may already know my position on MTBF.
If not, 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.
[Read more…]Exploring Alternatives to MTBF
Exploring Alternatives to MTBF
You may already know my position on MTBF.
If not, 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.
Confidence Intervals for MTBF
EDITED BY JOHN HEALY
As with other point estimates, we often want to calculate the confidence interval about the estimate. The intent is to determine the range of reasonable values for the true and unknown population parameter. For MTBF, this no different.
The Reliability Metric: A Quick and Valuable Improvement Over MTBF
Here’s Fred on a Dare to Know podcast episode talking about the book and blogging about the issues and solutions concerning MTBF. You can learn more about Fred at his bio.
MTBF and preventative maintenance
I find the world of maintenance a very odd place to find MTBF. While it is possible, that a set of equipment or a machine may actually have a constant failure rate it is the exception rather than all that common. Assuming a constant failure rate doesn’t make it so. [Read more…]
