Reference desk

Availability Definitions

Availability figures cannot be compared until their downtime boundary is clear.

DefinitionTypical relationshipIncludes
Inherent availabilityMTBF ÷ (MTBF + MTTR)Intrinsic failure and active corrective repair.
Operational availabilityOperating ÷ total calendar state timeRepair plus logistics and administrative delay.
Production availabilityRuntime ÷ planned production timeSite-defined production loss rules.

Boundary discipline

Decide how planned maintenance, standby, no-demand time, partial capacity, and external constraints are treated. A precise formula with an unclear time model is not a reliable KPI.

Related tools

Inherent availability calculator, operational availability calculator, and availability guide.