Nonconforming product control

The requirement in clause 4.13.1 of ISO 9001 requires the supplier s nonconforming product controls to provide for notifying the functions concerned. This supplementary... 

The Taylor system, successful in the United States until the end of World War II, resulted in a dramatic increase in productivity. The transfer of responsibihty for product quahty from production to the QC laboratory allowed production to emphasize productivity, relying on quahty control to keep nonconforming products from reaching the customer. In the years following World War II, quahty became secondary to productivity (6). 

Requirement for obsolete product to be controlled in a similar manner to nonconforming product... 

Personnel who control further processing, delivery, or installation of nonconforming product (4.1.2.1.1e)... 

As is stated in the standard, all characteristics are important and need to be controlled. However, some need special attention as excessive variation may affect product safety, compliance with government regulations, fit, form, function, appearance, or the quality of subsequent operations. Designating such characteristics with special symbols alerts planners and operators to take particular care. It also alerts those responsible for dispo-sitioning nonconforming product to exercise due care when reaching their decisions. 

The standard requires the procedures for control of nonconforming product to apply to any product which fails to pass any inspection and/or test. 

Figure 13.1 Clause relationships with the control of nonconforming product element...

The only sure way of preventing inadvertent use of nonconforming product is to destroy it, but that may be a little drastic in some cases. It may be possible to eliminate the nonconformity by repair, completion of processing, or rework. A more practical way of preventing the inadvertent use or installation of nonconforming or unserviceable products is to identify the product as nonconforming or unserviceable and place in an area where access to it is controlled. These two aspects are covered further below. 

There is also a supplementary requirement in clause 4.15.3.2 that requires obsolete product to be controlled in a similar manner to nonconforming product. This requires... 

In the final analysis, market price and sales volume are functions of the quality standards offered and the buyer s degree of confidence that the product will conform to the standards. Maintenance of buyer s confidence requires inspection to screen out all nonconforming products, or control over variability of quality during production and distribution to a degree where few, if any, products fail to meet the standards. Screening inspection of the finished product cannot improve quality it merely serves to segregate unacceptable from acceptable product, and results in loss of production capacity and costly waste and salvage. The second consideration provides the only sound basis for quality control in frozen food production and distribution. It operates on the old principle that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. ... 

A product that does not conform to product requirements is identified and controlled to prevent its unintended use or delivery. The controls and related responsibilities and authorities for dealing with a nonconforming product are defined in a documented procedure. 

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