Field-replaceable unit

A field-replaceable unit (FRU)[1] is a printed circuit board, part, or assembly that can be quickly and easily removed from a computer or other piece of electronic equipment, and replaced by the user or a technician without having to send the entire product or system to a repair facility.

FRUs allow a technician lacking in-depth product knowledge to isolate faults and replace faulty components.

The granularity of FRUs in a system impacts total cost of ownership and support, including the costs of stocking spare parts, where spares are deployed to meet repair time goals, how diagnostic tools are designed and implemented, levels of training for field personnel, whether end-users can do their own FRU replacement, etc.

FRUs are not strictly confined to computers but are also part of many high-end, lower-volume consumer and commercial products.

As the sophistication and complexity of multi-replaceable unit electronics in both commercial and consumer industries have increased, many design and manufacturing organizations have expanded the use of the FRU storage device[definition needed].