Quality Glossary.
Short, clear explanations of the concepts, methods and standards you meet most often in quality management.
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- 5 WhyMethod5 Why is a simple root-cause technique that deepens the cause of a problem by asking "why?" repeatedly. The number five is not a rule but a reminder not to stop at the surface.
- 8DEight DisciplinesMethod8D is a method for solving a problem as a team through a structured, eight-step approach. It became widespread in automotive, and customers often require an 8D report from suppliers.
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- APQPAdvanced Product Quality PlanningMethod · reference manualAPQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is a framework for developing a new product or change through a phased, gate-controlled plan so that it meets customer requirements.
- AS91009100 seriesStandardAS9100 (the IAQG 9100 series) is the standard that sets quality management system requirements for aviation, space and defence organisations. It builds on ISO 9001 with industry-specific requirements; the widely used edition is AS9100D.
- Audit FindingConceptAn audit finding is the result of comparing the audit evidence collected against the audit criteria. It can be classified as a nonconformity (usually major/minor), an observation or an opportunity for improvement.
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- CAPACorrective and Preventive ActionConceptCAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) is the systematic process of finding and eliminating the causes of nonconformities and potential nonconformities. It is an established term especially in regulated industries such as medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
- ContainmentConceptContainment is the immediate action taken to protect the customer and downstream processes from nonconforming product until a permanent fix is in place: sorting, quarantine, 100% inspection or stopping shipments.
- Control PlanMethod · reference manualA control plan is the document that defines how product and process characteristics are controlled: what is measured, by which method, how often, and what to do if there is a deviation. It can be prepared for prototype, pre-launch and production phases.
- CorrectionConceptA correction is action taken to eliminate a detected nonconformity, such as reworking a faulty part or fixing a record. It does not remove the cause of the nonconformity.
- Corrective ActionConceptCorrective action is action taken to eliminate the cause of a nonconformity and prevent it from recurring. An action defined without understanding the root cause is often only a correction.
- Customer-Specific RequirementsCSRCustomer requirementCustomer-specific requirements (CSR) are the automotive OEMs’ own requirements that they expect from suppliers in addition to IATF 16949. They can cover topics such as response times, problem-solving format, special characteristic symbols and approval processes.
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- Effectiveness VerificationConceptEffectiveness verification is proving, against a criterion and period defined in advance, that an implemented corrective action has actually eliminated the problem. Completing the action does not mean it was effective.
- EscalationOperations conceptEscalation is moving an issue to the right decision level by predefined rules when work misses its time target or risk rises. The aim is not to find someone to blame but to make the decision in time.
- EYDEPIndustrial Competency Assessment and Support ProgrammeAssessment programmeEYDEP is a programme in Türkiye aimed at assessing and developing the capabilities and capacity of organisations in the defence industry ecosystem. It is not a quality standard but an assessment and development programme; refer to the official EYDEP source for its current process and scope.
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- IATF 16949StandardIATF 16949 is the quality management system standard specific to the automotive industry. It is applied together with ISO 9001 and complemented by OEM customer-specific requirements; certification is performed by certification bodies recognised by the IATF.
- Ishikawa DiagramFishboneMethodThe Ishikawa (fishbone or cause-and-effect) diagram is a tool that visually organises the possible causes of a problem under categories. Categories commonly used in manufacturing are known as the 6Ms.
- ISO 10002GuidelineISO 10002 is the standard that gives guidance for planning, designing, operating, maintaining and improving the complaints-handling process within an organisation. It is a guideline, not a requirements standard, and can be used as one of the processes of an overall quality management system.
- ISO 9001StandardISO 9001 is the international standard that sets out requirements for a quality management system. It is industry-independent and can be used for certification; industry standards such as IATF 16949 and AS9100 build on it.
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- PPAPProduction Part Approval ProcessMethod · reference manualPPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is the approval process in which a supplier proves that its series production process can consistently meet customer requirements. The evidence is submitted as a file according to the submission level the customer requires.
- Preventive ActionConceptPreventive action is action taken to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity that has not yet occurred. In the current edition of ISO 9001 it is addressed through risk-based thinking rather than a separate clause.
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- Quality Lifecycle ManagementQLMConceptQLM (Quality Lifecycle Management) is the approach of managing quality processes not as separate records but as one lifecycle, from planning to event, from event to verified closure and learning.
- Quality Management SystemQMSConceptA quality management system is the set of policies, processes, responsibilities and records an organisation uses to plan, assure, control and improve the quality of its products and services. The most widely used reference framework is ISO 9001.
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- SCARSupplier Corrective Action RequestConceptA SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request) asks a supplier for root cause analysis and corrective action on a supplier-caused nonconformity. The supplier’s response is often expected in 8D format.
- SLAService level / time targetOperations conceptIn quality operations an SLA is a time target defining how quickly work or a step must be completed: first response to a complaint, containment, the 8D report. Targets often come from customer requirements.
- SPCStatistical Process ControlMethod · reference manualSPC monitors a process with statistical methods, especially control charts, to separate common-cause variation from special causes and to intervene in time.
- Special CharacteristicConceptA special characteristic is a product or process characteristic that needs special control because it can affect safety, regulatory compliance, fit or function. It is designated by the customer or the organisation and usually marked with customer-specific symbols.
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