Perform quality control and management processes
Product testing is typically referred to as quality control and uses quality orders. By using the quality control functionality, you can do the following tasks:
- Define the tests that must be performed for material. These tests include the quality specifications, applicable test instrument, documents that describe the test, a sampling plan, and acceptable quality levels (AQL).
- Create a quality order that identifies the tests that must be run for a specific order, such as a purchase or production order, or for a specific inventory quantity. You can create a quality order manually or generate a quality order automatically, based on quality guidelines.
- Define the quality guidelines that are related to purchase, quarantine, production, or sales orders in each business process so that a quality order can be generated automatically that identifies the testing requirements for incoming or outgoing material.
- Record the test results in a quality order, validate the test results against the AQL, and print a certificate of analysis that displays the test results.
Create and process a nonconformance order
Nonconformance orders can be created and processed when components have been set up for nonconformances.
A nonconformance is initially created with an approval status of New, which indicates that it represents a request for action. You can approve or refuse a nonconformance, which changes the approval status to Approved or Refused to indicate how you will act on the nonconformance.
You can also close a nonconformance (as indicated by a separate check box) to indicate that you are done with it. Or, you can reopen a nonconformance to indicate that more consideration is required.
You can define one or more related operations for an approved nonconformance. A related operation describes the work that should be performed and contains a list of the quality operations that you've defined and descriptive text about the reason for the work.
After you define an operation, you can define the miscellaneous charges, items, and timesheet labor hours that are required to perform the work. The calculated costs are shown for the related operation, and the total calculated costs are shown for the nonconformance.
The calculated costs and the underlying details (about items, labor hours, and miscellaneous charges) represent reference information, and are used only in the quality management function.
You can create a quality order from a nonconformance by first performing an inquiry for quality orders and then creating the new quality order. For example, a quality order might identify the need to test (or retest) the defective material. The newly created quality order displays the link to the originating nonconformance.
You can link one nonconformance to another and create a new nonconformance from an existing one. For example, the link can reflect the interconnection between quality problems.
Correction handling
To perform a correction, the status of nonconformance must be set to Approved in the Approval field. The Inventory management > Periodic tasks > Quality management > Corrections page lets you create a list of nonconformances that must be corrected. Each correction item is associated with the diagnostic type that caused the problem to be discovered.
The Corrections page also contains information about who must perform a corrective action and when. You can describe the details of the problem and the corrective action that is required by attaching a document to the correction. After the nonconformance has been addressed or corrected, you "close" the correction item by selecting the Completed option. You can also indicate that the solution was short term.
We recommend that you define a unique document type for corrections by using the Document type page. You can then use the Report setup page to define whether comments for this document type are printed on the correction report. A printed correction report displays information about the nonconformance and the related nonconformance notes. The report also includes correction information, such as the diagnostic type, and the related correction notes.
Manage quality reports
Some reports are available to support the quality management functionality in Supply Chain Management. This unit focuses on the Non conformance, Non conformance tag, and the Corrections reports.
- The Non conformance report displays identification information such as the nonconformance number, item, and problem type. The report displays the related notes based on report setup policies. Reports are selectively generated based on selection criteria, such as the nonconformance number, item, customer, vendor, or status that is associated with the nonconformance.
- The Non conformance tag displays identification information, such as the nonconformance number and item. The tag displays the related notes based on the report setup policies. The tag also displays the quarantine zone and type (such as restricted uses or usage versus unusable) that are assigned to the nonconformance to guide the disposition of the defective material.
- The Corrections report displays identification information about the nonconformance and the related nonconformance notes, as well as the correction information, such as the diagnostic and related correction notes. The report displays the related correction notes based on the report setup policies.
Certificate of analysis
A Certificate of analysis shows that materials or products are tested and found to comply with predefined specifications or standards.
The Inventory management > Inquiries and reports > Quality management > Certificate of Analysis page is used to manually prepare a Certificate of analysis for a quality order.
