Design life
The design life of a component or product is the period of time during which the item is expected by its designers to work within its specified parameters; in other words, the life expectancy of the item. It is not always the actual length of time between placement into service of a single item and that item's onset of wearout.
Another use of the term design life deals with consumer products. Many products employ design life as one factor of their differentiation from competing products and components. A disposable camera is designed to withstand a short life, whilst an expensive single-lens reflex camera may be expected to have a design life measured in years or decades.
Long design lives
Some products designed for heavy or demanding use are so well-made that they are retained and used well beyond their design life. Some
Obsolescence
Design life is related to but distinct from the concept of
See also
- Availability
- Circular economy
- Consumables
- Disposable product
- Durability
- Interchangeable parts
- Maintainability
- Planned obsolescence
- Repairability
- Service life
- Source reduction
- Throwaway society
- ISO 15686
References
- "Six Sigma SPC's Quality Control Dictionary and Glossary". Design Life. Retrieved 17 June 2006.
- Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, Victor Papanek, Academy Chicago Publishers; 2nd Rev edition (December 1985), ISBN 0-89733-153-2