While the controller was still in the design and planning stage, special reliability tests and pilot runs were used to analyze the design to make possible adequate guarantees to the customer, to provide reasonable specifications to the shop, and to make available sufficient advance information to the mechanical-inspection and electrical-test supervisors. Experience with previous similar designs; studies on the accuracies of the machines, tools, and processes to be used; and the full utilization of purchasing information were integrated to anticipate and minimize sources of possible quality troubles before production started.