Durability and Reliability. What is the difference?

[Chennaiite]

Durability and Reliability. What is the difference?
Thanks.

[Jennifer Kirley]

This is a very good question.

On the face of it, I would say there is very little difference - semantics really, as the durability of a product or service implies it is reliable - will perform as expected, for the duration expected by way of engineering and marketing.

However, there is an enormous program to design, engineer and manage reliability in items that perform physical/virtual functions. This includes mechanical (physical movement and wear from its friction), signal (data transfer in sound wave or through circuitry) and electrical, which may have finite lifecycles from use of the item.

On the other hand, the term durability suggests to me the lifecycle of an inanimate item, like a piece of clothing or furniture, which is subject to treatment from use or exposure to the elements.

This is a simplistic discussion, others plese feel free to expand on or refute what I offered.

[dQApprentice]

Reliability is a measure of how long a service can perform its agreed function without interruption. Can also be used to state how likely it is that a process, function etc will deliver its required outputs.
Durability is the ability to endure.

[Miner]

In Reply to Parent Post by dQApprentice

Reliability is a measure of how long a service can perform its agreed function without interruption. Can also be used to state how likely it is that a process, function etc will deliver its required outputs.
Durability is the ability to endure.

The Reliability definition is correct.

To clarify durability:
Durability is the ability to endure regardless of the number of repairs.

[Randy]

Durability...lasts a long time

Reliability...works as required

[Jennifer Kirley]

Trust Randy to say it in about 93% fewer words than I did, and still get it right.

[Chennaiite]

Thanks for the replies, I have some idea now.
Are the measuring units same for both? I mean either number of years, number of cycles, number of KM (for automotive), or whatever it is.

[dQApprentice]

In Reply to Parent Post by Chennaiite

Thanks for the replies, I have some idea now.
Are the measuring units same for both? I mean either number of years, number of cycles, number of KM (for automotive), or whatever it is.

Yes, it can be a number of years, number of cycles, distance, speed, rating (efficiency/effectiveness), multiples/submultiples, temperature scale, weight, etc. Anything that is measured and reported to help manage a process, service or activity be it personal, commercial and scientific e.g. SLAs, KPIs etc