What is an example of external failure costs?

External failure costs are expenses that arise when a product fails to meet quality standards after it has been delivered to the customer. These costs typically include any expenses related to addressing the issues caused by defects that have already affected customers.

Repair costs associated with customer returns exemplify external failure costs because they involve rectifying a problem that arises after the customer has received and used the product. These costs are incurred when a company must repair or replace defective items that were sold, reflecting the consequences of not meeting quality expectations during the production process.

In contrast, the other options represent different types of costs. Rework of defective products fall under internal failure costs since they are incurred to correct defects before the product reaches the customer. Employee training costs are categorized as preventative costs that aim to improve quality and reduce future failures. Costs of inspections before delivery also fall into the realm of appraisal costs, as they are associated with measures taken to identify defects before the product reaches the customer.