This topic covers the basic steps for using quality orders. Additional steps are required for using nonconformances.

To set up and use quality orders, follow these steps:

1. Define the inventory parameters that are related to quality orders.

   • Use the Inventory parametersform to select the check box for the Use quality management (on the Quality managementtab).

   • Click the report options button (on the Quality managementtab) to use the Report setupform where you define the document type that will print on the certificate of analysis that is associated with a quality order. More than one record can be defined for printing different document types on a report, or for printing internal and external notes. It is generally helpful to use the Document typeform to define a unique document type for the certificate of analysis. For example, you will enter notes on a certificate of analysis by using this unique document type, and you will identify this unique document type in the report options.

   • Enter the number sequence for the quality order and for the certificate of analysis on the Number sequence tab of the Inventory parametersform

2. Enable the assignment of inventory dimensions when you create a quality order.

   Use the Inventory dimensions tab on the Inventory parametersform to select the inventory dimensions that should be shown on quality orders, nonconformances, and the certificate of analysis. For example, select the warehouse dimension and select the quality orders in order to view the warehouse when creating a quality order.

   Use the Dimension groupsform and the associated editing rules for storage dimensions to select the check box for quality orders so that you can enter the relevant inventory dimensions when you create a quality order. You need to enable editing for each inventory dimension that you will be using and for each dimension group that you have defined.

3. Define the units of measure that will be used for quantitative tests.

   Use the Units form to define testing units of measure and the relevant decimal precision. The unit of measure is assigned to a test and to a test instrument. The unit of measure and decimal precision apply to the acceptable test measurement values and to the reporting of test results for quantitative tests.

4. Define the basic information for tests.

   • Use the Test instrumentsform to optionally define the information about test instruments that will be used for in tests.

   • Use the Tests form to define each quantitative test and assign a testing unit of measure. Optionally, assign the test instrument for the test.

   • Use the Tests form to define each qualitative test. You must define additional information about each test variable (and its outcomes) that will be inspected during a qualitative test. Use the Test variablesform and the Outcomesform to define the additional information. You will use the Test groupsform to link a qualitative test to the test variable being inspected.

   • Use the Item samplingto define your different sampling plans. A sampling plan is used to calculate the test quantity for a quality order.

5. Assign tests to a test group, and finish the definition of test information.

   • Use the Test groupsform to define an identifier for each group of tests. Assign a sampling plan and the acceptable quality level (AQL) to the test group, and select whether the tests within the group will require destructive testing.

   • Use the Test groupsform to assign one or more tests to the test group. When you assign an individual test to a test group, you define additional information, such as the sequence, the acceptable measurement values (for a quantitative test), the test variable and default outcome (for a qualitative test), documents, and validity dates.

   The test group that is assigned to a quality order provides the initial basis for which tests need to be performed on the specified item. Tests can be added, deleted, or changed on the quality order. Test results are reported for each test on a quality order.

6. Define quality groups and assign items to a quality group.

   Use the Quality groupsform to define quality groups, and the Item quality groupsform to assign items to a quality group. The automatic generation of quality orders (as defined on the Quality associationsform) can be defined for a group of items based on the quality group.

7. Define the quality guidelines for automatically generating quality orders.

   Use the Quality associationsform to define the events and conditions for automatically generating quality orders.