Failure in time rate (FIT) is a measure of the reliability of a component or system. It is defined as the number of failures that a component or system experiences within a specific time period, typically expressed as failures per billion hours of operation.
FIT is a useful measure of reliability because it takes into account both the frequency and duration of failures. For example, a component with a high FIT rate may experience many small, short-duration failures, while a component with a low FIT rate may experience fewer, but more severe, failures.
FIT is often used in the field of electronics, where components may be required to operate for long periods of time without failure. It is also used in other industries, such as aerospace and automotive, where reliability is critical to the safety and performance of the system.
FIT can be calculated using the following formula:
FIT = (Number of failures) / (Number of component hours of operation)
The lower the FIT rate, the more reliable the component or system is considered to be. For example, a component with a FIT rate of 1 would be expected to experience one failure per billion hours of operation, while a component with a FIT rate of 10 would be expected to experience 10 failures per billion hours of operation.
There are several factors that can affect FIT rate, including the quality and design of the component, the operating environment, and the maintenance practices in place. By understanding and managing these factors, it is possible to improve the FIT rate of a component or system and increase its reliability.
In summary, failure in time rate (FIT) is a measure of the reliability of a component or system, expressed as the number of failures per billion hours of operation. It takes into account both the frequency and duration of failures and is used in a variety of industries to evaluate the reliability of components and systems.
