MTTR and MTBF: maintenance metrics that compute themselves
You can't improve maintenance without numbers. The two that matter most are MTTR and MTBF — and in MaintenanceDesk nobody computes them in spreadsheets; they emerge automatically from the tickets you record anyway.
What the acronyms mean
MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) — the average time from a fault occurring to its resolution. It tells you how fast you recover.
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) — the average time between failures of the same device. It tells you how often a device lets you down.
High MTBF and low MTTR = a reliable operation. The opposite ratio = a device that needs attention.
A live overview instead of spreadsheets
MaintenanceDesk computes the metrics continuously from maintenance tickets and shows them in an overview:
- MTTR and MTBF with a trend over recent months
- Downtime — how long devices stood still
- Top failing devices — a Pareto view: a minority of machines usually causes the majority of faults
- Failure causes — split by category (mechanical, electrical, overload…)
- Planned vs. unplanned work — the ratio that shows whether prevention works
- Asset health — an A–F score combining failure rate, repair times and preventive maintenance compliance
Turning numbers into decisions
- MTTR rising? Look where the waiting happens — parts, contractors, diagnostics
- MTBF of one machine falling? A replacement candidate before it breaks the production plan
- Too much unplanned work? Prevention is under-dimensioned — maintenance plans bring it back
Start for free
Try the tickets these metrics grow from on the Free plan — no credit card required.