Glossary

Non-conformance record

A non-conformance record documents a product, process, or material condition that does not meet a specified requirement.

Aerospace Scrap Reduction, Nonconformance Management, and Capacity Risk Quality, NCR, and Continuous Improvement

A non-conformance record is a controlled record that documents a product, process, material, or service condition that does not meet a specified requirement. In manufacturing, it provides the traceable evidence of what was found, where it occurred, what was affected, and how the issue was evaluated and dispositioned.

A non-conformance record is commonly managed in a QMS or quality workflow, with supporting data from inspection systems, MES, ERP, PLM, or shop-floor controls. It may include the non-conformance description, affected part or lot, containment actions, root cause references, disposition decision, required rework or scrap instructions, approvals, and closure evidence.

The record should not be confused with the non-conforming condition itself. It is the documented control and decision record for that condition. It is also not the same as a CAPA, although a non-conformance record may trigger corrective or preventive action when the issue is systemic, recurring, or significant.

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What are the mandatory steps in an aerospace NCR workflow?

There is no single universal aerospace NCR workflow. The mandatory steps are defined by the organization’s QMS, customer requirements, contracts, and applicable standards. Common minimum steps include identification, containment, documentation, disposition, correction, verification, approvals, traceable closure, and CAPA when required.

What is the difference between nonconformity and an NCR?

A nonconformity is the actual failure to meet a defined requirement. An NCR is the controlled record or workflow used to document, evaluate, disposition, and close that issue. The exact trigger for creating an NCR depends on site procedures, customer requirements, and system configuration.

How should suppliers quantify the financial impact of recurring nonconformances?

Suppliers should quantify recurring nonconformances as cost of poor quality by defect family, part, process, program, and time period. Include booked scrap and rework, but separate estimated capacity loss, containment, expedite, customer chargebacks, and administrative effort from costs that finance can directly verify.

Related Glossary

Containment vs corrective action

Containment controls the immediate impact of a problem; corrective action addresses the root cause to prevent recurrence.

Defect containment

Defect containment is the short-term control of known or suspected nonconforming product to prevent further use or shipment.