3 Key Benefits of Nonconformance Management Software You Can’t Afford to Miss
In quality management, the role of identifying, managing, and tracking the nonconformances in a product, process, or system plays a key role. It ensures that quality is regularly controlled and assured based on the industry’s best practices and compliance standards.
Generally, when a product misses’ certain requirements or specifications; it is marked as a nonconformance/deviation/quality issue. And, it should be investigated and resolved at earliest to ensure quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.
Nonconformance can be categorized as:
1) Minor Nonconformance
A Minor Nonconformity is referred to as the product’s or process failure to conform to the defined requirements and specifications. But it will not impact the auditor’s judgment or customers’ experience or to the quality management system. It is generally observed as a single event that may pose minimal risk to the end-user or customer even if it gets delivered.
There are multiple examples of minor nonconformities like — product documentation with an unauthorized change, an unapproved purchase order, use of instrument even if it’s due for calibration.
2) Major Nonconformance
A major nonconformity refers to the situation of a total breakdown of the quality management system. It may happen due to the failure of any one of the processes or by not complying with the key ISO 9001 requirements. Such sort of nonconformity cannot even pass through the auditor’s judgment and may pose greater risks in terms of product functionality or the customer’s health.
Major nonconformity is generally a result of ignorance in the inspection of the product. It may kill the usability factor of any product. But if there are multiple minor nonconformities identified against the similar ISO 9001 requirements, it may be categorized as a major nonconformity.
There are multiple examples for major nonconformities as well like — not following the documented procedure or delivering the product without completing the requisite tests of quality. in both cases, the proximity of the risks is high, and the product is not likely to serve the intended purpose.
For the nonconformance management, you have to take two major steps: first is to report a deviation and secondly determine the risk associated with the same to resolve it effectively. However, choosing a nonconformance management software over the traditional reporting and tracking systems. It can help you to be better at eliminating quality issues and meeting compliance using industry best practices while keeping a track of issues and effectiveness of the action plan implemented.
Unlike traditional nonconformance reporting and tracking systems, the software can help you to be more specific by standardizing the respective processes such as Disposition, Containment, Investigation, etc. The three major benefits to consider nonconformance management software are:
1) Easy Identification, Documentation, and Investigation
With an advanced nonconformance management software, it becomes quite easy to identify, verify, and document the details of a nonconformance. It further helps for preliminary investigation wherein the risk severity of an issue is evaluated to categorize the same under the right processes.
For example, if the investigation shows that the nonconformance documented is a minor issue; you need not process it for detailed investigation followed in CAPA. A nonconformance management software eases capturing information about the product with pre-defined fields.
In the cloud-based configurable systems, you can also redefine the workflows with the fields your employees are most familiar with to ensure accuracy. The accurate details will add more value to the investigation process.
Wouldn’t you like to offer your teams an easy and convenient way to capture significant details regarding a quality issue using next-generation nonconformance management software?
2) Standardization of the Processes
It has been a tedious job to streamline and standardize the quality processes using traditional paper-based systems. it’s not just about the complexity; it’s more about the other unnecessary investments including time and resources.
On the other hand, it becomes quite easy and convenient to streamline and standardize the processes using the nonconformance management software. You will also experience traceability and flexibility to manage the nonconformances with software.
Standardized and streamlined processes include scheduled audits, notifications, alerts, approvals to reduce the dependencies and ensure appropriate quality management workflows. Always remember standardization of processes play a key role in ensuring consistency — be it in terms of process quality or product quality.
What would you prefer your brand to be known for consistent quality deliverables or consistent flaws?
3) Closed-Loop Quality Systems
Loosely held processes may impact product quality to a great extent. For example- if the supply chain processes will not be held effectively in healthcare, it could lead to disastrous conditions.
On the other hand, relying on technology through nonconformance management solutions can help companies to plan, synchronize, and collaborate precisely to meet the quality and compliance standards without any troubles.
Driven by cloud, there is much-advanced nonconformance management software that helps organizations to establish a closed-loop system for improved quality while mitigating the operational constraints like Qualityze.
Working with the nonconformance software gives you an added advantage to not only reduce the errors but also to unleash the potential of existing processes to drive continuous improvements. It ensures that your organization maintains a culture of quality and improvements to serve maximum customer satisfaction.
Don’t let the traditional analogy of nonconformance management and tracking systems hold you back from the quality culture that your organization truly deserves!
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, you can leverage many advanced tools and methodologies with the cloud-based nonconformance management software including a centralized database for storing nonconformance records.
Before you head to research the best nonconformance management solution for your business needs, it’s important that you make a list of requirements. it will make your selection job much easier and you are less likely to opt for an unsuitable solution.
Also, you must leverage the free product demos that most of the solution providers offer. It will help you to understand the product functionalities and the complexity of the interface to make an informed purchase decision.
If you want a quick reference, visit the Qualityze website and you will find a suitable solution to manage nonconformances flawlessly. You can also get in touch with the customer success team for more product queries or personalized product demo.
