TotalApp Docs

Quality Operations

End-to-end quality management — from inspection plan authoring and shop-floor checklists through non-conformance tracking, statistical process control, and full 4M lot traceability.

Overview

The Quality Operations module gives manufacturers a complete closed-loop quality system inside TotalApp. Define what to inspect, execute inspections on the shop floor, capture non-conformances when lots fail, monitor process stability with SPC charts, and prove compliance with forward and reverse traceability — all without leaving the application.

Inspection Plans

Build structured inspection plans with AQL sampling tables, characteristic definitions (variable or attribute), and defect limits per criticality level.

Quality Checklist

Execute plans on the shop floor with real-time pass/fail recording for each characteristic. The system auto-computes the accept/reject decision when the checklist is submitted.

Non-Conformance (NCR)

Track rejected lots through an open → assigned → analysis → disposition → approved → closed workflow, with root cause (6M), disposition decision, and CAPA action items.

SPC Charts

Plot variable-characteristic measurements against dynamically calculated control limits (UCL/LCL). Nelson rule violations are flagged automatically, and Cpk capability is calculated.

Traceability (4M)

Drill from any finished-good lot back to every material batch, machine, operator, and method revision used in its production — or run reverse queries from supplier lots.

Dual Style

Every screen supports the global Workstation (dark glass) and Enterprise (light corporate) visual modes — selectable in Settings → Appearance.

Module Location

Switch to Quality Operations mode using the mode switcher in the top header (shows "QO Mode"), or navigate directly from My Apps → Quality Operations. The mode can also be enabled and pinned in Settings → App Modes.

The Five Screens

Screen Purpose Key Actions
Inspection Plans Author and version inspection plan templates 4-step wizard, AQL lookup, characteristic editor, plan detail view
Quality Checklist Execute inspections on the shop floor Card-by-card measurement entry, auto pass/fail, accept/reject decision
Non-Conformance (NCR) Manage rejected lots from detection to closure Status workflow, root cause (6M), disposition, CAPA items
SPC Charts Monitor process stability over time Canvas control chart, Cpk analysis, Nelson rule violations
Traceability (4M) Forward and reverse lot genealogy 4M tree (material/machine/operator/method), supplier recall simulation

Typical Quality Workflow

These screens connect in a natural production quality loop:

1. Create Inspection Plan 2. Execute Checklist 3. Accept or Reject 4. Open NCR (if rejected) 5. Root Cause + CAPA 6. Monitor SPC + Traceability
  1. Design inspection plans — define which characteristics to measure, with what tools, and what the accept/reject thresholds are.
  2. Execute checklists — inspectors open a checklist from a plan, record measurements or pass/fail results for each characteristic, and submit to get an automatic lot decision.
  3. Handle rejections — a rejected lot automatically triggers (or the inspector manually creates) a Non-Conformance Report. The NCR moves through analysis, disposition approval, and corrective actions.
  4. Prevent recurrence — SPC charts reveal whether a process is drifting before it causes more rejections. Out-of-control signals generate Nelson rule violation alerts.
  5. Prove compliance — traceability records link every finished lot to its input materials, machines, operators, and method revisions, enabling rapid response to supplier recalls or customer audit requests.

Integration Points

Module Integration
Manufacturing Work orders provide production lot context; operator and machine data feed traceability records
Warehouse Incoming inspection checklists link to receipt lots; rejected lots can be quarantined
Purchase NCR disposition "Return to Supplier" generates a purchase return
Project Management CAPA action items can be linked to PM tasks for tracking
HR Operator training and certification status is captured in traceability records

Data Storage

All Quality Operations data is persisted via the server-backed JSON API at /api/data/quality-management. The store contains five top-level keys:

KeyContents
inspectionPlansRecord of plan ID → InspectionPlan objects with characteristics, sampling plan, and defect limits
checklistsRecord of checklist ID → QualityChecklist objects with per-characteristic measurements and decision
ncrsRecord of NCR ID → NonConformanceReport objects with root cause, disposition, and CAPA items
spcViolationsArray of SPC rule violations detected against control limits
traceabilityRecordsRecord of finished lot → TraceabilityRecord with 4M linkages

Server-Backed Persistence

Data survives page refreshes and is shared across browser tabs. The service layer in qualityManagementService.ts provides seed data on first load, so the module is immediately usable with realistic demo content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Quality Operations without the Manufacturing module?
Yes. Inspection plans and checklists can reference any product or lot number without requiring a linked work order. Only the traceability screen benefits most from having manufacturing data pre-populated.
How do I switch between Workstation and Enterprise visual style?
Go to Settings → Appearance → Screen Style and toggle between Workstation (dark glass) and Enterprise (light corporate). All Quality Operations screens respect this setting immediately.
Is the SPC data calculated in real time?
Control limits are derived from checklist measurement data stored in the quality-management JSON store. The chart redraws each time you change the selected characteristic. For a production deployment, connect the service to a live measurement database for real-time updates.
What happens to an NCR when its lot is dispositioned as "Return to Supplier"?
The disposition is recorded in the NCR record. In a full ERP integration, this would trigger a supplier return in the Purchase module. The NCR remains open until a quality manager explicitly closes it after verifying all CAPA items are complete.