Defectfrequence

Defectfrequence is a metric used in quality management to quantify how often defects occur in a production process or product over a given period or set of units. It is used to assess process stability and drive improvement.

The term can be defined in several ways depending on context. Common formulations include defects per unit produced, defects per hour of production, or defects discovered per function point in software.

Calculation typically involves dividing the number of defects by the number of units inspected or produced within the same scope. Example: 120 defects found in 10,000 units yields 0.012 defects per unit or 1.2 defects per 100 units.

Applications include manufacturing, software development, and hardware engineering. It supports comparisons across batches, lines, or time periods, and it informs process improvement and supplier quality management.

Data collection requires clear defect definitions, consistent inspection methods, and accurate record-keeping. Normalization for unit complexity or product variety may be necessary.

Interpretation and limitations: Lower defectfrequence indicates better quality, but results depend on sampling, defect classification, inspection rigor, and severity not captured by simple counts.

Related metrics include defect rate, defect density, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness; quality engineers often use defectfrequence alongside these indicators.