Out of Box Failure
Encyclopedia
The term Out of Box Failure usually refers to computer hardware
. It describes a negative experience a user has when installing and/or performing initial configuration on a piece of hardware
that exhibits an immediate failure mode.
.
For example, from suppliers in various countries:
was jokingly referred to as "Ausgepackt, Eingeschaltet, Garantiefall" ("Unpack, Turn-On, Warranty case") due to a high Out-Of-Box failure rate.
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
. It describes a negative experience a user has when installing and/or performing initial configuration on a piece of hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
that exhibits an immediate failure mode.
Definitions
Out Of Box Failure is a take on a common quality analysis term Out Of Box Experience, used in the electronics and personal computer industries (e.g. Windows Vista's initial release). It refers to a system that has a major defect preventing (or severely restricting) use that is immediately apparent upon opening the box of a new unit or first turning the unit on. The short form of OOBF is a typical abbreviation. Some companies also use OBF; another synonym, also used in numerous unrelated contexts, is DOA–Dead on ArrivalDead on arrival
Dead on arrival or D.O.A. is a term used to indicate that a patient was found to be already clinically dead upon the arrival of professional medical assistance, often in the form of first responders such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, or police...
.
Causes
Out-of-box failures are typically caused by the following issues:- Faulty components that were used in the product but not detected by quality assurance
- Storage induced failures, such as oxidation in high humidity environments
- Transportation induced failures, such as vibration induced looseness in connectors
- Configuration induced failures, for systems configured to customer specifications, but where the configuration of parts is incompatible
- Customer induced failures, from improper setup of the unit
Impact
Out Of Box Failures will significantly reduce customer perception of quality, and greatly escalate warranty costs.Practical usage
Many warranty policies for computers or other electronic equipment have a specific Out Of Box Failure category to describe actions provided to customers in such cases.For example, from suppliers in various countries:
Historical examples
In Germany, a now-defunct company named AEGAEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
was jokingly referred to as "Ausgepackt, Eingeschaltet, Garantiefall" ("Unpack, Turn-On, Warranty case") due to a high Out-Of-Box failure rate.