ABSTRACT
Product quality depends on many process variables, such as the caliber of the components or materials used; the training and experience of production and supervisory personnel; the level of "workmanship"; and sometimes the environmental conditions in the area where the product is produced. Quality system registration or approval entails the assessment and periodic audit of the adequacy of a supplier's quality system by a third party, known as a quality system registrar. The Questions and Answers on Quality reports have been and continue to be widely distributed by NIST and by private sector companies and educational institutions. The popularity of and demand for these reports far exceeded anything that the Office of Standards Services had anticipated or had ever experienced. These reports are part of NIST's growing effort to respond to the need for accurate and timely information on subjects related to national and international standards and conformity assessment.
