The small manufacturers approach [to rail traction control equipment]

For the small company designing microprocessor controlled equipment for use on rail traction vehicles, all of the constraints on design and manufacture which affect a larger company-meeting performance, reliability and environmental requirements-still apply. There are also additional restrictions imposed by the limited resources of a small company to withstand the potential financial effects of failure of equipment to perform to the customer´s satisfaction immediately it is installed, possibly resulting in protracted post-delivery investigations and costly modification programmes. The author argues much effort must therefore be expended throughout all phases of any project to minimise the risk of such problems occurring and to ensure that all equipment supplied meets the specified requirements of performance and reliability on first installation. Some comments on an approach to minimising the risks inherent in any project are also given