The responsibility for the operation of the plant and equipment used by a company is the responsibility of that company. A supplier of embedded systems is responsible for the design and operability of its products. The supplier of the device has in principle responsibility for its operability, provided that the device is used for a or the purpose for which it was supplied. The significance of the foregoing distinctions for record keeping is that records of devices need to identify their date sensitive components and where relevant the plant or equipment in which they are used. In considering actions relating to embedded systems, the intention must be possible to find, and if necessary, modify or replace, components rather than devices, and devices rather than plant or equipment.
Systems are generally the devices, equipment and plant in which the computer is embedded.