Frequently Asked Question

Containment and corrective action

Nonconformance control begins with identification and containment. Define the suspect population by lot, time, machine, material, operator, revision, and inspection history. Disposition should be authorized and traceable. Correction repairs the immediate defect; corrective action removes or controls the verified cause and must include an effectiveness check.

Worked example

If a hole-position defect is found after a tool change, first quarantine material produced since the last confirmed check. Verify the defect with an independent gauge, identify affected assemblies, correct the setup, and inspect a defined sample before restart. Then update the process risk analysis and control plan if the failure mechanism was not adequately controlled.

Engineering check

For Nonconformance, Traceability, and Corrective Action, record the material condition, tool or fixture identity, process settings, measurement method, sampling plan, and reaction rule. Confirm that the measurement system is capable of resolving the requirement and that the process is stable before using capability or first-article data to justify release. Reconfirm the limits after a material, tool, or route change.

Traceability note

For Nonconformance, Traceability, and Corrective Action, maintain a visible link between the requirement, design or process characteristic, risk entry, planned evidence, measured result, and approval record. Identify the configuration and revision used, record deviations and open actions, and state who accepts residual risk. When evidence changes, update the affected requirement, risk analysis, verification or validation plan, and manufacturing control rather than editing only the summary status.