Industrial Sensors & Instrumentation worked example

Sensor Drift Risk with drift severity rating of 3.5 1-10: a worked example

This worked example runs the sensor drift risk numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: drift severity rating of 3.5 1-10 instead of the typical 7 1-10. Score sensor drift risk using severity, occurrence, and detection ratings (FMEA-style) so reliability engineers can prioritize which sensors need shorter calibration intervals or replacement.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Drift severity rating: 3.5 1-10 (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 7)
  • Drift occurrence rating: 4 1-10 (held at the documented default)
  • Drift detection rating: 5 1-10 (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Drift risk score = severity rating x occurrence rating x detection rating.
  • Drift risk priority score works out to 4.05 score at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Drift severity rating works out to 3.5 score at these inputs.
  • Drift occurrence rating works out to 4 score at these inputs.
  • Drift detection rating works out to 5 score at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where drift severity rating sits at 7 1-10 and the headline result is 5.45 score, this scenario comes in 25.69% below the baseline at 4.05 score.
  • Use it during calibration-interval reviews, instrument FMEAs, or when triaging which drifting sensors to address first. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Drift risk priority score: 4.05 score (headline result)
  • Drift severity rating: 3.5 score
  • Drift occurrence rating: 4 score
  • Drift detection rating: 5 score

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Sensor Drift Risk calculator, set drift severity rating to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.