Success and Failure of Nuclear Power Plant Quality Assurance When Applied to Research and Development Activities

Quality Assurance in some form or fashion has been practiced at research and development laboratories and facilities for quite some time. This quality assurance effort has largely been that of the scientist taking good notes as the experiment or observation is conducted to provide adequate documentation of the research and development effort. With the advent of the national laboratories participating in such projects as the Waste Isolation Project Plant (WIPP), Three Mile Island, and the National Waste Storage Program, a need for planned, systematic quality assurance for research and development activities has come into being. Based on experience evolved from nuclear power plant and facility construction, the government has chosen to utilize for these new projects the criteria developed for use in construction of power plants, 10 CFR SO, Appendix B, \"Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants.\" While these criteria have worked reasonably well in the construction, maintenance, and operation of those nuclear plants, their application to research and development activities has not been an unqualified success. This paper will compare and contrast four criteria; surveillance, inspection, procurement,and calibration for application in the research and development situation, and nuclear power plants.