Risk Priority Number

The Risk Priority Number (RPN) is a tool used to identify and prioritize potential problems in a process or product. It is calculated by assessing three factors: how likely a problem is to occur, how severe the impact would be if it does, and how easily the problem could be detected before causing harm. Each factor is scored, and then multiplied together to produce the RPN. A higher RPN indicates a higher risk that needs urgent attention, helping teams focus their efforts on the most critical issues first.