epidemic failures是什么意思？

从字面翻译解释为流行失败，显然这是不够专业的，
这是它的英文解释："Epidemic Failure" means Product failures at or above mutually agreed upon rates set forth in the Product Plan for such Product resulting from defects in material, workmanship, manufacturing process and/or design deficiencies attributable to SCI (or its subcontractors), including but not limited to use of components with inherent or latent defects, or consistent misadjustments during manufacture. There are two types of Epidemic Failures: (a) product failure(s)attributable toa single root cause; or (b) a product failure attributable to multiple root causes.
综合它的英文解释，你可以把它理解为设计缺陷（与之具来的缺陷，更倾向于结构本身的缺陷，从根本上产生的产品缺陷。），基本上就是这个意思吧，这应该是在某个合同里出现的名词吧。

参考 http://contracts.onecle.com/apple/scis.mfg.1996.05.31.shtml
http://nooutage.com