1. It is sometimes claimed that increasing quality and reliability beyond levels that have been achieved in the past is likely to be uneconomic, due to the costs of the actions that would be necessary. Present the argument against this belief. Illustrate it with an example from your own experience.

2. Explain the difference between reliability and durability and how they can be specified in a product development programme.

3. a. List the potential economic outcomes of poor reliability, and identify which cost are directly quantifiable and which intangible. Explain how they can be minimized, and discuss the extent to which very high reliability (approaching zero failures) is achievable in practice.

b. What are the major factors that might limit the achievement of very high reliability?