Aerospace Supplier Cuts NC Resolution Time by 20% and Reduces Recurring Defects
Company Snapshot
Profile: Aerospace component manufacturer
Products: Mechanical assemblies and precision components for aerospace programsLocation: Production facility in France
Certifications: EN9100-compliant aerospace quality system
Context: ERP-connected production environment with quality workflows previously managed through email, Excel, and manual coordination
.png)
The Situation
At the production site, non-conformities (NCs) were being recorded — but the processes around them were fragmented.
Quality engineers, production teams, and supply chain coordinators all contributed to resolving issues, but coordination relied heavily on emails, Excel logs, and manual follow-ups. Each department maintained its own tracking methods. Root cause analyses were often disconnected from the original NC, and corrective actions were tracked separately across files and conversations.
The data existed — but not within a structured, shared system.
As production volumes increased, this fragmentation began to create operational friction. Coordination required repeated clarifications. Engineers spent valuable time chasing updates. Preparing for audits meant manually reconstructing records from scattered sources.
The process functioned — but at the cost of time, efficiency, and growing operational risk.
The Challenge
Fragmented NC tracking. Non-conformities were managed across emails, spreadsheets, and informal communication channels, with no centralized workflow to track issues from detection through resolution.
Slow cross-functional coordination. Resolving an NC required multiple back-and-forth exchanges between Quality, Production, and Supply Chain. Ownership was not always clear, and engineers had to actively follow up to move cases forward.
Hidden idle time in workflows. Even simple cases experienced delays between steps due to unclear responsibilities or missed handoffs — increasing overall resolution lead time.
Limited reuse of root cause knowledge. Root cause analyses and corrective actions were not consistently linked to the original NC, making it difficult to track effectiveness or prevent recurrence.
Manual audit preparation. Traceability between defect, root cause, and corrective action had to be reconstructed manually, increasing audit preparation time and risk of missing information.
The Solution
Rather than launching a heavy IT project, the team focused on structuring the NC workflow itself. The objective was clear: connect detection, investigation, and corrective action within a single, shared process.
Centralized digital NC workflow. A structured workflow was introduced to standardize NC registration, enforce defect categorization, require root cause documentation, and link corrective actions directly to each case. Role-based task assignments, automated notifications, and controlled status transitions ensured that each NC progressed through a clear, accountable lifecycle.
Designed for cross-functional execution. Quality, Production, and Supply Chain teams now operate within the same system. Instead of chasing updates, stakeholders have real-time visibility into case status, responsibilities, pending actions, and investigation results.
Traceability by design. NC records, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and validation steps are fully connected. Every action is logged, creating a complete and auditable history available instantly when needed.
The Results
The implementation delivered measurable improvements in both operational efficiency and quality performance.
20% faster NC resolution. Lead time decreased from 20 days to 16 days by eliminating idle time between workflow steps and improving coordination — enabling faster containment and resolution of quality issues.
630 hours recovered annually. Across approximately 600 NC cases per year:
- 300 hours saved through reduced coordination time (30 minutes per case via structured workflow and automated notifications)
- 240 hours saved by reducing workflow delays and idle time
- 90 hours saved in audit preparation due to centralized, audit-ready traceability
Equivalent to ~0.35 FTE reallocated to higher-value activities
Fewer recurring defects. With root causes systematically documented and corrective actions tracked to completion, the team estimates a 10% reduction in recurrence rate — avoiding ~15 repeat incidents annually and reducing internal cost by approximately €7,500 per year
Improved data quality, fewer rework cycles. Structured data entry, standardized defect codes, and controlled workflows eliminated incomplete records and inconsistencies — avoiding ~50 data correction cycles annually (≈ €6,000 in avoided cost)
Operational shift beyond the numbers. Quality issues are no longer scattered across inboxes and spreadsheets. They move through a visible, accountable workflow from detection to resolution — freeing engineers to focus less on administration and more on preventing the next defect.
What’s Next
Strengthening cross-site learning. Future phases will enable engineers to search historical NCs and corrective actions more easily — accelerating root cause analysis and preventing repeat issues across sites.
Expanding digital quality workflows. The platform is being evaluated for in-process inspection tracking, supplier non-conformance management, and quality dashboards for management reviews.
Key Takeaway
By centralizing the non-conformance workflow, this aerospace supplier transformed a fragmented, email-driven process into a structured and scalable quality management system.
The impact is both operational and financial:
20% faster NC resolution, 630 hours recovered annually, fewer recurring defects, and audit-ready traceability by default.
No major system overhaul — just a clear, connected workflow that turns quality data into actionable insight.
Learn More
Built for Speed, Trusted by Experts
Whether you're managing 1 site or 100, C-981 adapts to your environment and scales with your needs—without the complexity of traditional systems.
