Defense Electronics & Ruggedized Systems worked example

Mission-Critical Quality Cost at 92% program exposure included: a worked example

Push program exposure included up to 92% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when mission-critical quality cost in defense electronics and ruggedized systems is being put through a defense electronics and ruggedized systems weighted-cost review.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Quality events or affected assemblies: 100 events (unchanged)
  • Cost per quality event: 45 $ / event (unchanged)
  • Program exposure included: 92 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 80)
  • Fixed containment and MRB cost: 250 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Exposed quality event cost = quality events or affected assemblies × cost per quality event × program exposure included) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,390 $ for total mission-critical quality cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 43.9 $ / piece for quality cost per event.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4,140 $ for exposed quality event cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 250 $ for fixed containment and mrb cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where program exposure included sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 14.03% above the baseline at 4,390 $.
  • It multiplies quality events by cost per event and a program-exposure share to get variable quality cost, then adds fixed containment and MRB cost for a total mission-critical quality cost. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total mission-critical quality cost: 4,390 $ (headline result)
  • Quality cost per event: 43.9 $ / piece
  • Exposed quality event cost: 4,140 $
  • Fixed containment and MRB cost: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Mission-Critical Quality Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.