Subject: SAP Quality Management (QM)
In quality management, timely resolution of quality issues is crucial to maintaining product standards and customer satisfaction. Quality Notifications in SAP QM document these issues, but the resolution often requires a structured escalation and approval process to ensure accountability, proper handling, and compliance with organizational policies.
This article explores the escalation and approval mechanisms within SAP Quality Management notifications, highlighting how these workflows contribute to efficient quality issue resolution.
Escalation refers to the process of automatically or manually advancing a notification or task to higher authority levels when certain conditions are met—such as overdue actions, unresolved issues, or critical severity.
Approval processes define the required authorizations and sign-offs before certain actions within quality notifications can proceed or be finalized. This may include:
SAP QM leverages the SAP Business Workflow framework to design and automate escalation and approval processes. Workflows can be tailored to:
A quality notification regarding a critical defect is created but remains unresolved for 5 days. The escalation workflow automatically sends a reminder to the responsible quality engineer. If the issue remains unaddressed for 3 additional days, it escalates to the quality manager for immediate attention. Meanwhile, approval is required from the manager before the corrective action plan can be implemented.
Escalation and approval processes are essential components of effective quality notification management in SAP QM. By automating these workflows, organizations can ensure timely, accountable, and compliant handling of quality issues, ultimately supporting continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
Implementing robust escalation and approval mechanisms within SAP QM requires careful planning and configuration but delivers significant value in maintaining operational excellence.