Quality and Reliability
Different yet both are essential.
Reliability is a measure of a product’s ability to withstand usage within that product’s specifications for a period of time as determined by the OCM (original component manufacturer), using their proprietary test methods usually reported as MTTF (meantime to failure) and other measurements.
- Reliability is measured through destructive means
- Includes speed, at temperature, and at limits testing by the OCM
- Periodically reviewed up to each lot of product
Quality is conformance to a specification at a particular time.
- The specification may be a datasheet, a SCD, a JAN slash sheet, or a customer documented requirement
- Can only be measured using OCM test programs/ conditions for standard products where the specification is unchanged from the original OCM specification
- Quality does not equal reliability
Only OCMs or their authorized test providers, such as Rochester Electronics, can determine true reliability.
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