its design, inspection of the design is a primary link in control of product quality. In the stage of technical planning, product quality is provided by a thorough design analysis, ineluding fulfillment of the necessary composite calculation operations and experimental investigations confirming the correctness of the technicoeconomic indices adopted in the design. The values of the basic technicoeconomic induces must be used taking into consideration the possible reduction of their level in service and also taking into consideration the expected increase in their level as a result of the constant improvement in the product [i]. In determining the level of product quality, it is necessary to differentially approach the individ~al factors participating in the formation, providing, and realization of quality. Determination of quality level is a combination of such operations as the choice of quality indices and determination of their numerical values and also of the values of the basic and relative indices for the purpose of a basis of the best decisions used in controlling product quality. The system in effect in plants for defect-free design, production, and delivery starting with the first submission of experimental models has completely justified itself. However, the experience of many advanced plants shows that in this stage of technical progress the action of only this system is insufficient. In some plants a sequence of checking documentation has been established which is based on totalling of penalty ratings of the persons responsible for errors detected in the work [2]. However, in this case errors in development are actually rated and not the quality level of technical documentation. Let us consider, e.g., two production processes. One of them specifies the use of high production equipment, effective precision equipment, and raw materials of the most rational form with the optimum allowances. The other is developed on a medium technical level. If both processes are developed without errors, then their rating according to the existing system will be the same. Obviously this must not be. In plants where a system is in effect for control of the quality of preparation of technical documentation in rating the quality of technical documentation consideration is given to scrap in production, rework from the customer, return of documents from the shops for correction of errors, and changes in documents provided to production. Changes in documents are not considered as errors if they are caused by improvement in design or technology, by the introduction of new standards and other scientific and technical documents, and by requirements of the customer [3]. As may be seen,,in this case there is not a concrete and clear rating of the quality level of the technical documentation developed, upon which to a large degree product quality depends.