In Weibull analysis, what does a Beta value less than 1 indicate?

In Weibull analysis, a Beta value less than 1 indicates that the failure rate decreases over time. This situation typically reflects "infant mortality" or early failures in a product's lifecycle, where items are most likely to fail shortly after being put into service. The physical interpretation of a Beta value below 1 suggests that as time progresses, the likelihood of failure diminishes.

This is important for reliability engineers as it can inform decisions on maintenance strategies, warranty periods, and product design adjustments. Understanding that products tend to perform better with age, in this context, helps in resource allocation and risk management.

In contrast, a Beta value of 1 represents a constant failure rate, characteristic of items that fail randomly over time, while a Beta value above 1 indicates increasing failure rates as components age. Recognizing these distinctions allows reliability practitioners to better assess asset performance and lifespan.