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8. PRODUCT WARRANTIES
3 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]  
8. PRODUCT WARRANTIES

8.  PRODUCT WARRANTIES

 

The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time the products are shipped.  While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of its component suppliers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure.  Should actual product failure rates, material usage or service delivery costs differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required.

 

The standard warranty period is ninety days for parts and service and one year for systems.

 

The following is a summary of changes in the Company's liability for product warranties during the three months ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

 

    Three Months Ended  
    August 31,  
    2014     2013  
             
Balance at the beginning of the period   $ 223     $ 222  
                 
Accruals for warranties issued during the period     32       92  
                 
Settlement made during the period (in cash or in kind)     (87 )     (88 )
                 
Balance at the end of the period   $ 168     $ 226  

 

The accrued warranty balance is included in accrued expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.