MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
MTBF is the average operating time between failures of a repairable asset. A higher MTBF means a more reliable machine. It is a core reliability metric used to compare assets, target maintenance and justify predictive-maintenance investment.
MTBF is calculated as total operating time divided by the number of failures over that period. It applies to repairable equipment (a pump that fails, is fixed and runs again), unlike MTTF which is used for non-repairable items. MTBF is most useful as a trend and a comparison — rising MTBF shows reliability improvements working.
Related terms
MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) · Unplanned Downtime · Predictive Maintenance (PdM) · RCM (Reliability-Centred Maintenance)