The annual failure rate is a measure of the reliability of a product or system, indicating the percentage of units that fail per year. It is a critical metric in industries such as manufacturing, electronics, and engineering, where it is essential to predict the lifespan and maintenance needs of products. A lower annual failure rate suggests a more reliable product, which is desirable for both manufacturers and consumers.
The formula to calculate the annual failure rate is:
\[ AFR = \left( \frac{F}{U \times T} \right) \times 100 \]
Where:
Let's say there were 10 failures, 1000 units tested, and the time period was 2 years. Using the formula:
\[ AFR = \left( \frac{10}{1000 \times 2} \right) \times 100 \]
We get:
\[ AFR = \left( \frac{10}{2000} \right) \times 100 = 0.5 \]
So, the annual failure rate (\( AFR \)) is 0.5%.
