Nonconformity

Specification
CSS Lecture 5
 NONCONFORMITY (QUALITY)
•In quality management, a
nonconformity (sometimes
referred to as a defect) is a
deviation from a specification,
a standard, or an expectation.
 NONCONFORMITY (QUALITY)
•Nonconformities can be
classified in seriousness
multiple ways, though a
typical classification scheme
may have three to four levels,
including critical, serious,
major, and minor.
 Nonconformity vs. Defect
•a nonconformity represents a
failure to meet an intended state
and specification;
• a defect represents a failure to
meet fitness for use/normal usage
requirements.
Nonconformity vs. Defect

•a nonconformity as the
nonfulfillment of a requirement
•a defect as the nonfulfillment
of intended usage
requirements.
 Classifying nonconformity
• A manufacturer producing high numbers of items will not
action every defective product. The definition of major vs.
minor will involve a threshold.
• For example, under 10 defective items per shift per machine
is minor, and over this threshold is classed as major. The
threshold will reflect the value of the items and depends on
the product, the process step, the type of defect, and how
much loss the company is willing to absorb.
 Minor nonconformity
•the problem is an isolated occurrence
•the problem does not affect
•the customer it creates little or no
waste
•the defect can be rectified
quickly/easily/cheaply
 Major nonconformity
• delays that affect the customer’s schedule
• major delays to your delivery schedule
• rework, repeat service calls, or repairs
• the rejection of incoming goods or materials
• the rejection of a batch of finished product
• cost overruns (which result from all other failures), or
cost surprises
• repeated occurrences of the same minor issue
 Sources of nonconformity
• The causes of nonconformities aren't unlimited and
therefore determinable. Common causes for
deficiencies to arise include:
1. poor communication (or miscommunication)
2. poor documentation (or lack of documentation)
3. poor or limited training of personnel
4. poor motivation of personnel
 Sources of nonconformity
• The causes of nonconformities aren't unlimited and
therefore determinable. Common causes for deficiencies
to arise include:
5. poor quality materials (or lack of appropriate materials)
6. poor quality tools and equipment (or lack of
appropriate tools and
7. equipment) poor or dysfunctional operating
environment
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