Quality assurance at nuclear power plants: Basing programmes on performance

quality assurance programme is often incorrectly interpreted as only a regulatory demand and/or paperwork, with no effective impact in the overall performance of the nuclear project. Over the past decade, however, the nuclear industry has experienced a loss of public confidence stemming from real shortcomings in performance. This has led to dramatic changes in the perception of quality and how to achieve it. In short, the nuclear industry as a whole has found that its traditional perception of quality assurance (QA) was not contributing to plant safety and reliability as meaningfully as it could and should do. The perception has significantly changed in recent years. (See chart.) QA programmes may vary somewhat according to the cultural, historical, and industrial experience of the nations and organizations involved. It is generally agreed, however, that an effectively implemented QA programme governing all aspects of a nuclear power project is an essential management tool.* Today, new challenges are demanding that QA programmes and their management be improved. This article looks at recent developments, and at the IAEA's role in assisting countries to achieve high levels of quality in the nuclear industry.