---
title: "Reliability, availability, maintainability and safety"
chunk: 1/1
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability,_availability,_maintainability_and_safety"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T11:53:03.867307+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

In engineering, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS) is used to characterize a product or system:

Reliability: Ability to perform a specific function and may be given as design reliability or operational reliability
Availability: Ability to keep a functioning state in the given environment
Maintainability: Ability to be timely and easily maintained (including servicing, inspection and check, repair and/or modification)
Safety: Ability not to harm people, the environment, or any assets during a whole life cycle.


== See also ==


== References ==