Lab Equipment & Scientific Instrument Manufacturing worked example

Configuration Option Complexity with severity of configuration error of 15 1-10: a worked example

What does the result look like when severity of configuration error reaches 15 1-10? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use when evaluating new configuration options, reviewing custom build requests, or deciding which instrument variants need additional manufacturing controls. High RPN scores indicate configurations that may cause assembly errors, test failures, or field issues without additional process controls.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Severity of configuration error: 15 1-10 (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 6)
  • Occurrence likelihood: 4 1-10 (unchanged)
  • Detection difficulty: 5 1-10 (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Risk Priority Number (RPN) = severity x occurrence x detection) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8.65 score for risk priority number (rpn), the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 15 score for configuration error severity.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4 score for occurrence likelihood.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 5 score for detection difficulty.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where severity of configuration error sits at 6 1-10 and the headline result is 5.05 score, this scenario comes in 71.29% above the baseline at 8.65 score.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when severity of configuration error is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. RPN is ordinal, not a true probability, and equal RPNs can hide very different severities; a high-severity, low-occurrence mode may need action even when its RPN looks moderate.

Results at a glance

  • Risk Priority Number (RPN): 8.65 score (headline result)
  • Configuration error severity: 15 score
  • Occurrence likelihood: 4 score
  • Detection difficulty: 5 score

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Configuration Option Complexity calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.