Quality Control Workflow Explained: From Inspection to CAPA

Step 1: Inspection: The Foundation of Quality Control #

Every quality control process starts with inspection.

Inspections verify whether products, materials, or processes meet defined requirements such as:

• Technical specifications

• Customer requirements

• Regulatory or industry standards

• Internal quality criteria

Inspections can happen at multiple points:

• Incoming materials

• In-process production

• Final product release

• Field or service activities

How software helps #

With Artintech ERP Inspection Forms, inspections are:

• Standardized and repeatable

• Linked to sales orders, batches, or assets

• Fully traceable for audits and reporting

Inspection data becomes structured quality intelligence, not scattered notes.

Step 2: Snag, Capturing Minor Issues Before They Escalate #

Not every issue requires a full non-conformance. This is where snags come in.

A snag is a minor defect or issue identified during inspection that:

• Does not immediately block operations

• Does not pose a safety or compliance risk

• Still requires correction

Common examples include:

• Cosmetic defects

• Minor dimensional adjustments

• Missing labels or markings

• Small documentation gaps

Why snag tracking matters #

Organizations that ignore small issues usually face bigger ones later. Capturing snags early:

• Prevents rework accumulation

• Improves consistency

• Strengthens quality culture

How software helps #

The Snag Form in Artintech ERP allows teams to:

• Log issues quickly

• Link them to inspections

• Track closure without unnecessary escalation

This keeps quality proactive instead of reactive.

Step 3: Non-Conformance, When Requirements Are Not Met #

A Non-Conformance (NC) is raised when a product or process fails to meet a defined requirement.

Non-conformances may originate from:

• Failed inspections

• Customer complaints

• Internal audits

• Process breakdowns

An NC formally documents:

• What requirement was violated

• Where and how it occurred

• Scope and impact

• Immediate containment actions

How software helps #

Using Artintech ERP’s Non-Conformance Form, organizations can:

• Standardize NC classification

• Maintain audit-ready records

• Link issues to root cause and CAPA workflows

This ensures quality decisions are based on evidence, not assumptions.

Step 4: Request for Deviation, Managing Approved Exceptions #

In some cases, a product does not fully meet requirements, but scrapping or reworking is not the best option. A Request for Deviation (RFD) allows organizations to formally approve and control exceptions.

A deviation is:

• Intentional and documented

• Approved by authorized roles

• Time-limited or quantity-limited

• Fully traceable

Examples include:

• Temporary dimensional tolerance approval

• Use-as-is decisions

• Temporary process changes

How software helps #

The Request for Deviation Form in Artintech ERP:

• Enforces approval workflows

• Documents risk and justification

• Links deviations back to non-conformances

This eliminates informal approvals that fail audits.

Step 5: Disposition, Deciding What to Do with Non-Conforming Output #

Once a non-conformance is identified, a disposition decision must be made.

Typical disposition options include:

• Rework

• Repair

• Scrap

• Return to supplier

• Use as is (with deviation approval)

Disposition answers the operational question:

What happens to this product right now?

How software helps #

The Disposition Form in Artintech ERP:

• Records decisions and authorizations

• Separates immediate actions from long-term improvements

• Triggers follow-up tasks automatically

This avoids confusion between fixing the product and fixing the process.

Step 6: RCCA, Identifying Root Causes #

Fixing symptoms is not quality improvement. Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) focuses on why the issue happened and why it was not prevented earlier.

RCCA typically examines:

• Process weaknesses

• Human factors

• Equipment or tooling issues

• Training gaps

• Control failures

How software helps #

The RCCA Form in Artintech ERP:

• Structures root-cause analysis

• Links causes to evidence

• Connects analysis directly to CAPA planning

This turns investigations into actionable insight.

Step 7: CAPA, Corrective and Preventive Action #

CAPA is where quality control delivers long-term value.

• Corrective actions eliminate root causes of existing problems

• Preventive actions reduce the likelihood of similar issues elsewhere

Effective CAPAs are:

• Clearly defined

• Assigned to owners

• Time-bound

• Verified for effectiveness

How software helps #

With Artintech ERP’s CAPA module, organizations can:

• Track actions to completion

• Verify effectiveness with evidence

• Maintain full traceability from issue to resolution

This is how quality systems mature over time.

Step 8: Task Assignment, Turning Quality Decisions into Action #

Quality processes fail when actions are not owned.

Every inspection finding, correction, or CAPA requires:

• Assigned responsibility

• Due dates

• Status tracking

• Visibility

How software helps #

The Task Assignment feature in Artintech ERP:

• Links quality actions to real people

• Integrates QC tasks into daily operations

• Ensures accountability and follow-through

Quality becomes executable, not theoretical.

Why an Integrated QC/QMS Software Matters #

Without an integrated quality management system (QMS), quality workflows become:

• Fragmented across emails and spreadsheets

• Difficult to audit

• Hard to analyze for trends

• Dependent on individual discipline

With Artintech ERP, the entire QC process—from Inspection to Snag, Non-Conformance, Deviation, RCCA, CAPA, and Task Assignment—is:

• Fully connected

• Traceable

• Audit-ready

• Scalable

This allows organizations to move from reactive quality control to systematic quality improvement.