<title>Quality assurance from a manufacturer's standpoint</title>

Abstract

The efforts of a manufacturer in the area of component procurement acceptance testing are very visible, while the quality assurance work that goes on during the design and manufacture of medical imaging equipment is frequently not so apparent. Many steps in the design and production of imaging devices are carefully designed to promote not only quality of the devices when initially installed, but also the ability to maintain the device''s quality over a period of time. Customer requirements for aesthetics, performance, safety and regulatory compliance must be considered. Software, which represents over 70 of the design engineering of modern products, presents a special challenge since the quality of software cannot be tested and must be designed in. Specific hardware elements such as monitor phosphor color and uniformity deserve extra consideration. A design that allows quick diagnosis and replacement of failed components is also important.