Challenges in practice
Whether it's a new part, a product modification, or a requalification – structured and standards-compliant initial sample inspections are a key component of quality assurance for customers as well. Providing initial sample inspection documentation, measurement data, evidence, and release documents often involves significant coordination efforts.
In practice, documents are sent via email, versions are exchanged multiple times, and release statuses are documented separately. Questions, additions, or deviations lead to delays in the release process. At the same time, the demands for transparency, traceability, and audit-proof documentation are increasing.
Therefore, direct, digital integration of your customers is essential for efficient collaboration. Initial sample inspection data, attachments, and release steps must be provided in a structured and traceable manner – online, of course, without complex cloud access or technical hurdles.
Solution QS1
Through the QS1 customer portal, you provide your customers with all relevant documents for initial sample inspection (ISI) or requalification testing in a structured format. Measurement data, test reports, certificates, drawings, and other required documentation are directly accessible and versioned within the system.
Your customers gain an "external" view of the ISI data released to them and can review, comment on, or approve it. Internal and external processing statuses are transparently visible at all times. Deviations or queries can be communicated directly within the system and, if necessary, translated into corrective actions.
By integrating relevant ERP data such as sales orders, delivery notes, and product-related information, your customers have access to all the necessary data for a structured review. Your QS system thus becomes an integral part of the digital supply chain, significantly reducing coordination efforts and lead times.
- Structured provision of standards-compliant initial sample and requalification inspections
- Digital communication of approvals, comments, and feedback
- Versioned management of all initial sample inspection documents, attachments, and certificates
- Transparent internal and external view of processing and approval statuses
- Integration of batch, serial number, vehicle, and machine data
- Direct integration of relevant ERP data (orders, delivery notes, product files)
- Workflow-driven coordination and approval processes
- Platform-independent, browser-based web application
- No additional installation required
Does this sound familiar?
- Initial sample and requalification inspections are clearly defined by standards, but collaboration with the customer is time-consuming: documents, measurements, and evidence are exchanged via email, leading to queries and rounds of reconciliation.
- Versions get mixed up: drawings, test reports, certificates, and attachments exist in different versions, while the release status is documented separately, making it prone to errors.
- Releases are delayed due to a lack of context: the customer needs to review documents but cannot immediately find the relevant basic data, the current status, or the complete documentation.
- Queries and deviations are not properly integrated into the process: comments, requests for additional information, and resubmissions are processed in a distributed manner, which impairs traceability and auditability.
- You need digital integration, but without barriers: access should be online, easy to use, and still enable audit-proof documentation and a clear release logic.
This should be achieved through a robust process
- Structured provision of all ISIR documentation: Measurement data, test reports, drawings, certificates, and other evidence must be complete, compliant with standards, and presented in a consistent structure.
- Versioning and release logic within the system: Every change must be traceable, and it must be clear at all times which version is valid for release.
- Transparent internal and external visibility: The customer should see only the released information, while internally, processing statuses, open issues, and responsibilities remain manageable.
- Direct communication within the process: Comments, questions, and additions must be recorded with the correct object, and deviations must be immediately translated into corrective actions as needed.
- Unambiguous assignment via ERP and traceability: Orders, delivery notes, product data, and batch and serial numbers must be available as source data so that the customer can perform checks in the correct context.
Coverage in QS1
- Provides all relevant documents for initial sample inspection (ISI) or requalification testing in a structured manner via the QS1 customer portal. Measurement data, test reports, certificates, drawings, and other supporting documents are stored and versioned within the system.
- Gives the customer a targeted external view of the ISI data released to them and enables review, commenting, and approval within the portal. Internal and external processing statuses remain transparent and traceable at all times.
- Supports workflow-driven coordination and approval processes, ensuring clear responsibilities, statuses, and approval levels, and preventing version conflicts.
- Enables structured communication of queries and deviations directly within the process and, if necessary, transfers these to corrective action management, where deadlines, responsibilities, and approvals are transparently controlled.
- Integrates relevant ERP data such as customer orders, delivery notes, and product-related information, and supports unambiguous assignment via batch, serial number, vehicle, or machine data, enabling the customer to work with complete context.
- Complements operational control through dashboards and BI that visualize open processes, approval statuses and feedback, thus creating transparency for management.
Your Result: Less coordination effort and significantly less email communication, faster and cleaner customer approvals, clear transparency regarding status and responsibilities, audit-proof and standards-compliant documentation, and professional, digital integration of your customers into the ISIR process.
Your Advantages
- Reduced coordination efforts and email communication
- Shorter lead times for ISIR and requalification processes
- Clear transparency regarding approval statuses and responsibilities
- Audit-proof and standards-compliant documentation
- Faster customer approvals through structured provision of all documents
- Minimization of version conflicts and media breaks
- Improved collaboration with your customers
- Professional and transparent external presence in the quality process
- Digital integration of your customers into the supply chain
