Page 237 - The Handbook for Quality Management a Complete Guide to Operational Excellence

224 P r o c e s s C o n t r o l Q u a l i t y A u d i t s 225

Minor characteristic. Any feature, other than major or critical, whose
failure would likely be noticeable to the user.
Incidental characteristic. Any feature other than critical, major, or
minor. While it is possible to develop classification schemes that are
more detailed, the above definitions suffice for the vast majority of
appli cations.

Identification of Materials and Status
Has this been inspected? If so, was it accepted? Rejected? Does it require
rework? Re-inspection? Retest? Obtaining clear answers to these ques-
tions is a primary task in quality control. Virtually all quality systems stan-
dards and specifications require that systems that identify the status of
purchased materials, customer-supplied materials, production materials,
work-in-process, and finished goods be developed, well documented, and
fully implemented.

Purchased Materials
Proper identification of purchased materials begins, of course, with the sup-
plier. A key part of the supplier’s quality system must include the identifi-
cation of materials and sta tus discussed below. Once received, the quality
status of purchased materials should be identified in accordance with docu-
mented procedures. The proce dures should cover how purchased material
will be identified (e.g., with status tags), where the materials are to be
stored until conformance to requirements has been established, how
nonconforming material will be identified and stored, and how to process
nonconforming purchased materials.

Customer-Supplied Materials
Procedures must be developed and documented for the control of verifi-
cation, storage, and maintenance of customer-supplied product provided
for incorporation into the supplies, or for related activities. The proce-
dures must ensure that product that is lost, damaged, or otherwise unsuit-
able for use is recorded and reported to the customer.

Work-in-Process (WIP)
Procedures for the identification of the inspection and test status of all
WIP should be developed and documented. The identification of inspec-
tion and test status should be part of the quality plan covering the entire
cycle of production. The purpose of the procedures is to ensure that only
product that has passed the necessary inspection and test operations is
delivered. WIP proce dures should also include any in-process observations,
verifications, and tests that are required. For example, some products must
undergo certain inter im processing that cannot be verified except by direct
observation as the processing is taking place.

10_Pyzdek_Ch10_p209-226.indd 224 11/16/12 4:55 PM