Follow-up Actions

Use

When quality-related defects are confirmed, you must often initiate specific corrective actions (tasks) to eliminate the source of a problem. For example, these tasks could involve:

  • Modifications to the production process

  • Changes to the composition of the product

  • New procurement procedures

You sometimes release the inspected goods only after certain tasks have been carried out, such as follow-up inspections, reworking or repairing the product, or more specific laboratory tests.

You can use either quality notifications or follow-up actions for this purpose. The standard system contains several follow-up actions listed below, which are assigned to respective function modules in the Customizing application.

The tasks for maintaining follow-up actions are carried out in the Customizing application. The follow-up actions are linked to usage decision codes. You must maintain the usage decision codes in the catalog for usage decisions (catalog type 3).

Selecting Follow-Up Actions

In the characteristic overview screen, the area for the usage decision also contains a field in which you can enter a follow-up action. Use the possible entries help for the field to select a follow-up action. The follow-up actions that have been defined in Customizing for the standard system include the following:

  • MAIL

Send a standard mail when the usage decision is made

  • MAIL2

Send a mail with the usage decision data when the usage decision is made

  • MAIL3

Send mail with the usage decision data and a long text when the usage decision is made

  • MANUAL

Execute follow-up action manually (no function)

Note Note

If an inspection lot is rejected, you can send a mail as a follow up action, advising the purchasing department of the poor-quality delivery of goods from a vendor.

End of the note.

Inspection Lot Status Change

In the Customizing application, your system administrator can assign a general status management transaction to a follow-up action. This will cause the assigned status to be reflected in the inspection lot status (for example, when a follow-up action has been carried out, the status "follow-up action carried out" will be set for inspection lot).