Yield/quality improvement using calculated failure rate derived from multiple component level parameters

A method for improving yields in magnetic heads for use in manufacturing computer hard disk drives, comprising:

• A) identifying parameters of the heads which affect hard disk drive manufacturing yields;
• B) collecting data concerning individual performance parameters;
• C) creating a reference scale which correlates individual parameters with probability of failure in hard disk drive;
• D) testing a manufactured head to collect performance data concerning two or more of said individual parameters from a manufactured unit;
• E) comparing performance data concerning two or more of said individual parameters from said manufactured head to said reference scale to assign probability of failure at HDD test, for each of said single performance parameters;
• F) calculating a Figure of Merit value concerning multiple performance parameters from said probability of failure for each of said single performance parameters;
• and
• G) utilizing said Figure of Merit value to sort heads.