Economic aspects of quality assurance

The paper analyses the structure of the costs involved in quality assurance for nuclear projects. First, it gives a definition of quality costs and then it explains why an appropriate cost analysis is required. A breakdown of quality costs is given, distinguishing between internal and external costs. The costs of prevention, evaluation and internal losses are reviewed for the first case and those of external losses for the second case. The need for auditing quality costs in respect of both concept and function is reviewed. Lastly, as an example of the application of the above concepts, the paper reviews the actual costs incurred by an electric company for its quality assurance activities relating to the design, purchase, manufacture, construction, commissioning and operation of a 1000 MW(e) nuclear power plant. (author)