QML (qualified manufacturing line): a method of providing high quality integrated circuits

The military integrated circuit (IC) suppliers desire to operate using `best manufacturing and processing practices´ while maintaining the freedom to make timely changes without government approval. The suppliers believe that if granted this operational freedom, they will still deliver high quality ICs and possibly reduce the per unit cost to the military. The military insists that they must continue to exercise change control approval for their product and also conduct screening test programs due to the potential serious consequences which can result from the insertion of nonconforming ICs into their equipment. The resolution of the IC suppliers versus the military concerns appeared to be at an impasse. The QML concept has emerged as a possibility for resolving the suppliers versus the military concerns