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.