Data engineering and IT

Mean time between failures (MTBF)

  • Data engineering and IT

Definition

The average time a system runs before it fails.

Also called

MTBF, Mean time between failures

Example

1,000 hours of operation with 4 failures gives an MTBF of 250 hours.

For your role

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Why it matters

It shows how reliable systems and equipment are.

Where it is used

Equipment reliability reports and IT operations.

How to calculate it

Total operating time in hours ÷ number of failures

Worked example

1,000 hours of operation with 4 failures gives an MTBF of 250 hours.