feilfrihet

Feilfrihet is the Norwegian term for the state or degree of being free from defects or errors in a product, service, or system. In quality management contexts it denotes the goal that performance and customer satisfaction are not compromised by faults. It is an ideal that organizations strive toward rather than an absolute property.

The concept covers design, manufacturing, assembly, and operations. Achieving feilfrihet typically involves prevention-focused approaches: clear requirements, robust design, process standardization, supplier quality management, and training. Methods such as risk assessment (FMEA), design reviews, and error-proofing (poka-yoke) are used alongside verification activities like testing and inspections. Quality assurance metrics—such as defect density, first-pass yield, and failure rate—are employed to gauge progress toward feilfrihet. In software, feilfrihet aligns with reliability and defect-free releases, achieved through test automation, continuous integration, and code reviews.

Practical limits exist: zero defects is rarely achievable in practice, so striving for feilfrihet requires balancing cost, lead time, and risk. High feilfrihet can improve customer trust, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance safety, especially in sectors such as healthcare, aviation, and automotive.

Etymology: the term combines feil (fault, error) and frihet (freedom).

Related concepts include quality management, quality assurance, defect, reliability, continuous improvement, and risk management.