Continuity and enhancement of quality management during commissioning of W7-X

The commissioning of Wendelstein 7-X, the first numerically optimized stellarator, is a new phase in the project. The general planning and execution of the commissioning of the entire W7-X system follow its structure into appropriate components, subsystems and systems. The approach for taking these systems into operation will lead to so-called local commissioning which is usually executed for individual systems in connection with the necessary peripheral devices and auxiliary systems. The subsequent step-wise testing and commissioning of the systems in connection with the central device of W7-X, including the central safety control, and the central data acquisition system is performed in the second step, the so-called integrated commissioning. This leads directly to the preparation of first plasma operation. New organizational and quality management elements have been added to the running system, or existing, proven tools have been modified. The major new organizational structures and tasks and the quality planning and assurance tools are described in more detail. The experience during the first commissioning steps of the vacuum and cryogenic systems is outlined.