Subject: SAP-Quality-Management (QM) | Category: SAP
In Quality Management, performing inspections on every batch or lot can be resource-intensive and time-consuming. To optimize inspection efforts without compromising quality, companies adopt strategies such as Skip Lot Inspections. SAP Quality Management (SAP QM) provides robust functionality to implement skip lot inspections, enabling organizations to reduce inspection frequency based on supplier performance, historical quality data, or risk assessments.
This article explores the concept of skip lot inspections, how to configure them in SAP QM, and the benefits they deliver in streamlining quality processes.
Skip lot inspection is a sampling strategy that allows certain production lots or batches to bypass inspection based on predefined criteria. Instead of inspecting every lot, inspections are performed at scheduled intervals or only when specific conditions indicate increased risk.
Skip lot inspections help balance inspection costs and resource use with the need to maintain product quality and compliance.
SAP QM supports skip lot inspections primarily through the Quality Info Record (QIR) functionality in procurement and through inspection lot creation control parameters.
Quality Info Record (QIR):
The QIR links a vendor and material and stores quality-specific data like inspection type, sampling procedures, and skip lot parameters.
Sampling Procedure:
Defined in the inspection plan or QIR, it specifies the inspection scope, sample size, and conditions for skipping inspections.
Skip Lot Control Parameters:
These parameters define rules based on supplier performance, such as:
A company purchases screws from a trusted supplier with a consistent quality record. Instead of inspecting every delivery, they configure skip lot inspection to inspect every 5th lot after 3 consecutive accepted lots, reducing the inspection frequency but maintaining quality oversight.
If a defect is detected in a skipped lot, the skip lot status is reset, and inspections resume for each lot until the supplier reestablishes quality confidence.
Skip lot inspections offer an intelligent approach to reducing inspection efforts while safeguarding product quality. SAP QM’s built-in functionalities for skip lot management empower organizations to optimize their inspection processes based on data-driven criteria and supplier reliability. By adopting skip lot inspections, companies can achieve significant cost efficiencies and improve their overall quality management performance.
Keywords: SAP QM, skip lot inspection, sampling procedure, quality info record, inspection lot creation, quality management optimization, vendor quality control