There was this signal generator whose output frequencies were derived by a phase-locked-loop that was referenced to a 10 MHz oscillator. The specification control drawing (SCD) for that oscillator called out that the oscillator's harmonics of 10 MHz not be greater than 60 dB below the level of the 10 MHz signal itself, a requirement that was met quite nicely by oscillators purchased per that SCD from oscillator company "B".
Happiness reigned throughout the land.
Then one day, someone in the purchasing department decided that company "B" was too costly to buy from and went instead to company "A" who had quoted a lower price. With the new company "A" oscillator, the signal generator's output was suddenly filled with all kinds of nasty intermodulation products which would simply vanish when an older company "B" oscillator was put back in.
Unhappiness now reigned throughtout the land.
All of this was officially seen as an "engineering problem". Engineering was officially accused of being irresponsible for not caring about costs in advocating a return to company "B" as the oscillator's supplier.
Guess who got stuck with fixing this one.
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