Quality concepts and products litigation

The landscape for doing business in America is marked by products liability litigation. Americans have gained a reputation for being extraordinarily litigious. While the existence of any products liability "crisis" is the subject of heated debate, the simple fact remains: potential legal exposure – civil, administrative and, in some instances, criminal – is a legitimate concern for any manufacturer. Embracing and implementing quality concepts, principles and techniques yields numerous rewards in the event of litigation. This paper considers the current legal climate, looks at factors relating to product liability, and gives details of some relevant cases. It examines the litigation benefits of a quality assurance framework and quality management and concludes that such systems are an advantage to a defense attorney defending such a company in case of litigation.