Quality management for WENDELSTEIN 7-X

The WENDELSTEIN 7-X stellarator is the next step device in the stellarator line of IPP Garching and is being built in the new branch institute of IPP at Greifswald. Start of operation is scheduled for 2006. The W7-X project is presently the largest scientific project in Germany with a total spending of 300 MEU during the construction phase. From the beginning of the design up to the end of operation, the project will last for almost 40 years. More than 350 people are expected to work on W7-X during the operational phase. An experiment of this size needs an industrial type management. An essential central function within this management is performed by the quality management division. This division is responsible for the following subtasks: system co-ordination, documentation, quality planning and quality assurance. A quality system is established for the W7-X construction project which is based on the DIN EN ISO 9000 family. The basis of the quality system is a quality manual together with the necessary procedures and instructions. Quality planning and assurance is carried out in close co-operation with the various technical divisions.