The relationship between Conformance Costs and Nonconformance Costs is described as:

a$)$ Direct, where increasing Conformance Costs lesds to higher Nonconformance Costs.

b$)$ Imwerse where reducing Conformance Costs can decrease Nonconformance Costs.

c$)$ Independent, with no connection between the two.

d$)$ Cycical, fluctuating with market concitions.