Product quality investigation use case
Use case scenarios demonstrate when and how to use the Product non-conformance application to create a product quality investigation report. It provides practical examples of common product quality investigation situations.
Scenario-Airbag sensor defect investigation
This use case is a follow-up use case from Product non-conformance, see Product non-conformance use case.
Alectri detects airbag sensor defects affecting 2024 Voltar VS vehicles. Quality teams must conduct a comprehensive investigation with cross-functional coordination, structured root cause analysis, and financial governance. Key challenges include:
The quality investigation team encounters some challenges:
- Communication silos: fragmented communication across engineering, quality, and finance teams
- RCA methodology: lack of structured root cause analysis methodology.
- Cost visibility: missing visibility into total quality costs.
- Approval authority: No clear governance for remediation action approval.
Solution
Manage the quality investigation through four key workflow phases:
- Investigate: Able Tutor (Quality Lead) opens the investigation case and creates analysis tasks (sensor calibration, manufacturing process, supplier controls).
- Analyze: Emily Cooper (Investigation Member) performs 8D analysis with Fishbone methodology to identify root causes and define corrective and preventive actions.
- Coordinate: Establish RACI roles across Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and Dealer teams. Review impacted assets and create remediation actions.
- Approve: Finance Lead reviews line-level charges for parts, labor, and process improvements, then approves remediation costs with full traceability.
The Product quality investigation provides real-time visibility into investigation status, root causes, and cost of quality (CoPQ) tracking across all remediation activities.
Benefits
Compare the impact of using the Product Quality Investigation application.
| Without MCO | With MCO Quality Investigation |
|---|---|
| Uncoordinated root cause analysis | Structured 8D methodology with Fishbone analysis identifies underlying issues. |
| Scattered corrective actions | Linked corrective and preventive actions with clear ownership and timelines. |
| Hidden quality costs | CoPQ tracking provides visibility across containment, remediation, and prevention activities. |
| Manual approval workflows | Line-level approval authority maintains cost governance and end-to-end traceability. |
Outcome
Alectri completes the airbag sensor defect investigation with cross-functional coordination and structured analysis. Emily identifies root causes through 8D methodology, develops corrective and preventive actions, and raises a financial request for remediation. Finance approves line-level charges, maintaining cost governance. The investigation establishes preventive measures and provides end-to-end traceability from root cause identification through remediation completion.