Many companies anxiously await product quality inspection results and focus on the “accept” or “reject” status alone. However, it is important to note that useful information exists within the details that are worth examining. Here are a few things that should be considered: Defect Trends – An accepted inspection doesn’t mean that no defects were noted. It just means they fell within the AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit). Maintaining a spreadsheet of defect data can help identify trends and areas of improvement. Using the idea of 80/20 (Pareto), continuous improvement efforts can be targeted at defects contributing 20% of the total, with the expectation that an 80% overall improvement will result. Packaging Variance – If packaging details are not provided in the product specification, the inspector will report the findings and use package integrity testing (ISTA drop-test) to determine if there are any issues. However, it is useful to note variations in the packaging when they exist. Digital photos and metric information is included in the reports. Product Specification Revision – As inspection reports are issued and findings evaluated, changes to the product specification should be made as a continuous improvement effort. For additional information regarding understanding the inspection process, click here.
