ABSTRACT
Product Quality Assurance can have a vital influence on the achievement of Reliability. Quality Assurance people have a vital role to play by putting themselves in the position of the customer, asking how the product is to be used and whether the final test procedures include a reasonable imitation of the way in which customers are likely to use the product. The Quality and Reliability of the product, not for altruistic reasons, but because it is through the Quality and Reliability of the product that customer dissatisfaction is avoided and the market is properly serviced. The Director of Reliability, Maintainability and Quality in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of US Navy Ship Building and Logistics has raised all sorts of hackles by decrying the established disciplines in this field and insisting on more attention to detail. The emphasis must first and foremost be on the product and its quality and reliability.
