Non-conformities (CA/PA)

NCR Workbench offers a real solution for recording and controlling issues that require investigation, rectification, corrective and preventive action (CA/PA). Quality Management ‘nonconformities’ are an obvious example; ‘accidents’ reported as part of a Health and Safety system or an ‘uncontrolled release’ in an Environmental system are equally valid examples.

In terms of sheer bottom line contribution to a company, the savings realised in tracking and correction of nonconformities can be extremely substantial. Moreover, encouraging employee involvement in solving problems can be highly motivating and cost effective. This in turn contributes to an overall model of business excellence.

The Nonconformities module encourages any manner of alleged nonconformity to be recorded. After assessment (usually by senior management) the subsequent steps that should to be taken to rectify the problem are logged. In this way, a bank of nonconformity data is built up over time and can be of immense management benefit in identifying any underlying patterns or trends. Longer term system improvements can then be introduced.

Benefits

Flexibility - the system can be applied to any business process where adherence to a standard or working procedure is important.
Encourages employee involvement in problem-solving by making it easy for individuals to contribute.
One central point of reporting (no need for additional CAPA program)
Greater employee empowerment encourages a sense of process ownership.
Prevention is better than cure! Eliminate repetition of needless mistakes.
Ongoing identification of improvement opportunities is a key element in the drive toward business excellence.
Identify trends or nonconformity patterns emerging from the reported details to facilitate longer-term improvements in working practices.
Record and report upon the costs of both nonconformities and the actions required to correct them; this gives senior management a true insight into the bottom line consequences of problem areas.
Reduce wastage by highlighting flaws in production and working methods and procedures.
Ensures employee accountability.

Module Features

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Close integration with the rest of the system. Nonconformities may be raised from other Workbench modules such as Test & Calibration for equipment test failures and Customer Care when a complaint exposes inherent system weakness.
The module generates Business Rules that can define, at key stages in the process of the nonconformity, which members of personnel are to be informed and who is to take action.
Rules are optional. They can be turned off for all or any type of nonconformity if not required
For staff without system access, a Nonconformity report form can be printed out that reflects the on-screen display. This greatly simplifies later entry of the information.
All messaging mechanisms are highly configurable allowing a close fit to your preferred way of working and communicating.
A full history trail is automatically maintained for each nonconformity and corrective action.

Assessing nonconformities and assigning corrective actions

Nonconformities can be defined and reported in the terminology of your organisation.
Any number of corrective actions may be raised against a nonconformity.
The Quick NCR Wizard reporting mechanism allows resolved nonconformities to be easily and rapidly recorded in the system.
Corrective action target completion dates are stored in the Workbench central calendar and are automatically updated if they change.
The severity of a nonconformity can always be changed. A re-assignment to a more severe level, for instance, can be set up to automatically 'escalate' the problem to involve more senior staff
Pre-defined personnel lists enable a structured and controlled sign off of resolved nonconformities.
User defined prioritisation of tasks.