The dynamic is interesting and I have a middle ground perspective between the two fields. As a Process Engineer in my companies manufacturing and science technology group my role deals in bridging the gap between R&D and manufacturing, therefore I deal with both departments on various issues. From my experience quality simply follows the guidelines that are created to the letter and does not stray from the directives that are created. This is where the tension rises in certain projects between R&D, there are many times where new products are put on an accelerated path however quality is where the slow down occurs because you cannot cut corners. R&D may be able to adjust the timelines they have for an accelerated path to market and attempt to use statistics and science to convince quality but this does not usually work as I stated before quality is stringent, and rightfully so on following the directives that they have.