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Durability

5 May, 2016 - 14:49

Durability is defined as the amount of use one gets from a product before it breaks down, and replacement is preferable to continued repair. This has two implications. First, durability is closely linked with reliability. A product that often fails is most likely to be scrapped earlier than one that is more reliable. Consequently, repair costs will be correspondingly higher and the purchase of a competitor's brand is more likely.

Second, durability figures should be interpreted with care. An increase in product life may not be the result of technical improvements, or the use of longer-life materials; rather, it is a result of the underlying economic environment.