Which component of RPN reflects the likelihood of failure?

• A. Occurrence
• B. Severity
• C. Detection
• D. Risk Priority

Answer: (A)

In risk assessment, the likelihood of a failure is captured by the occurrence rating. It measures how often the failure mode is expected to happen under the current process. Severity, by contrast, is about how serious the impact would be if it does occur, and detection focuses on how likely current controls are to catch the failure before it reaches the customer. The Risk Priority Number combines severity, occurrence, and detection to prioritize actions, so it reflects overall risk rather than just probability.