Product Testing
 

The design and manufacture of most consumer products is governed by standards, codes or guidelines. In some cases performance based standards are specified which may require physical testing to determine whether a product met the applicable code. In other situations, where no applicable codes exist, product testing may provide informative data as to the failure strength, expected life cycle, or pattern of failure for a particular consumer product. The failure of a product to withstand loads which it could be subjected to through normal usage would indicate deficiencies in the design or manufacture of the product. It may also be possible to determine whether modifications to a product, or its misuse, led to a particular type of failure.