Coming from an engineer working in the medical device industry, the quality department is crucial in the success of our products. Yes, at times the quality department is particular about matching certain standards which can cause delays in projects. Yes, we need to be trained every time quality documents get updated. Yes, the quality department does butt heads with engineers and scientist because of the statistical justification required for sampling. However, they are necessary in helping the company move forward rather than backward. This last month I was able to participate in an ISO audit and the quality department was on point with everything. Everything went so smooth, without any hiccups or concerns. Without quality assurance nagging us about certain methods and criteria’s then audits like the ISO audit would have been a disaster. It’s better off to pay someone 60k(+) a year then have an entire company get shutdown for recall or audit. The opportunity cost is justifiable for having a quality department (QA, QC).