Q.A. - have we gone bananas?

The author questions the desirability of present quality assurance procedures in the British nuclear industry, with special reference to pressurized water reactors. Quality assurance aims to produce adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy quality requirements. A balance must also be struck between the cost and value of quality assurance. The author argues that current practice does not offer value for money, nor necessarily better nuclear safety standards and that levels of paperwork are excessive and counterproductive. (UK)