Show TOC

 Quality Notifications (QM-QN)

Purpose

This component contains functions for recording and processing different types of problems (for example, problems resulting from poor-quality goods or services). You can use the notifications to analyze the recorded defects and monitor the correction of these problems. In particular, the notifications can help you process internal or external problems such as:

  • Complaints filed by customers

  • Complaints against vendors

  • Company-internal problems

  • Other user-specific problems

As an extremely flexible system, you can also use this component to process and manage information of a positive nature (for example, to implement a "suggestion system" in your company to manage improvements).

Implementation Considerations

You should implement this component if your company needs an effective and efficient tool that can:

  • Manage and process its internal and external problems

  • Help you optimize your business processes through continuous process improvement

Integration

The quality notifications are a part of the general system of notifications in the SAP system that also includes maintenance notifications in the Plant Maintenance (PM) component and service notifications in the Customer Service (CS) component.

The quality notifications are also integrated with the following processes in the logistics supply chain:

Integration with Other Quality Management Components

If you want to

You must install

Access catalog code groups and codes to document the defect items, causes, and tasks in a quality notification

Catalog (QM-PT-BD-CAT)

Create quality notifications while processing an inspection to record quality-related problems

Quality Inspection (QM-IM)

Analyze the notification data using various evaluation tools

QM Information System (QM-QC-IS)

Create quality notifications for customer complaints over the Internet

Quality Notifications on the Internet (QM-QN-NT)

Integration with Other SAP Components

If you want to

You must install

Settle the nonconformity costs recorded for a notification problem in a QM order

Controlling (CO)

Trigger workflow tasks in the course of notification processing.

SAP Business Workflow (BC-BMT-WFM)

Store notification-related documents in an optical archive

SAP ArchiveLink (BC-SRV-ARL)

Classify defect items in a notification using general characteristics

Classification System (CA-CL)

Link documents managed in the SAP system's Document Management System to a quality notification

Document Management System (CA-DMS)

Features

The quality notifications include a wide range of features and functions. In general, you can use a quality notification to:

  • Describe a problem and identify the affected reference objects (for example, material, vendor, manufacturer)

  • Record the names of all persons (partners) who are involved with the problem

  • Define processing parameters for the quality notification (for example, assigning a priority to the notification and specifying a time range within which the problem should be completed)

  • Record individual defect items that relate to the problem and analyze their causes

  • Specify the corrective actions to be taken (for example, tasks that are implemented immediately or corrective tasks that are implemented after a thorough analysis of the defects)

  • Monitor the execution of corrective actions through a status management function

  • Log all activities that have been carried out for the problem

  • Record the nonconformity costs incurred while processing and correcting a problem

  • Print, fax, archive or export various types of reports (shop papers) that relate to the problem

In addition, this component also allows you to selectively generate lists of recorded notifications for processing or evaluation purposes.