Electronic equipment failure

Nature

Although amounts spent by manufacturers on production testing are increasing rapidly, a rising percentage of faulty equipment is being delivered to customers. Every step in the manufacture of an electronic product, for example, produces defects of which a certain number inevitably remain undetected. There is a direct relationship between the percentage of undiscovered defects and the cost of the final product, since some defects must be accepted if costs are to be kept down. Such difficulties are likely to get worse rather than better with the introduction of more sophisticated techniques, such as integrated circuit technology, and with the increasing complexity of equipment which such techniques make possible.

Background

The global significance of electronic equipment failure emerged in the mid-20th century as electronics became integral to industry, healthcare, and communication. High-profile incidents, such as the 1965 Northeast blackout and early computer malfunctions, highlighted vulnerabilities and cascading impacts. Over subsequent decades, increasing reliance on complex electronic systems in critical infrastructure and daily life deepened awareness of the widespread consequences, prompting international research into reliability, standardization, and risk mitigation strategies.

Incidence

Electronic equipment failure most often occurs in complicated radio-electronic equipment, such as computers and automatic control devices. The principle causes are imperfect soldering, poor contact in plug and socket connectors and internal defects in the elements.

Claim

A transistor protected by a fast-acting fuse will protect the fuse by blowing first (Klipstein's fifth law of production).

Counter-claim

Electronic equipment failure is vastly overblown as a concern. In today’s world, devices are affordable, easily replaceable, and often come with warranties. Most failures are minor inconveniences, not crises. People adapt quickly, and essential services have robust backups. Worrying about electronic equipment failure distracts from truly pressing issues. Frankly, it’s not an important problem at all—just a minor hiccup in our otherwise seamless technological lives.