Standardized Terminology is Critical for Process Alignment
Published .
Related
- AS9100
Topics
- definitions
- terminology
- fai
- cots
- standard-catalog-item
- communication
- qms
An organization was creating a process plan and associated First Article Inspection (FAI) package. During internal planning and supplier discussions, personnel used quality-related terms like "COTS item," "Standard Catalog Item," and "Special Process" based on their own interpretations or legacy program knowledge.
This reliance on assumed meanings, rather than the explicit definitions within the governing quality standards, led to the misclassification of components and processes. A component was incorrectly identified as a standard part, leading to its FAI documentation being omitted from the package.
Key Takeaways
- The customer rejected the FAI package due to incomplete objective evidence for all applicable parts and processes.
- This resulted in production delays and required the supplier to conduct additional verification activities and resubmit the corrected FAI.
- This reliance on assumed meanings, rather than the explicit definitions within the governing quality standards, led to the misclassification of components and processes.
Best Practice
Actively use the "Terms and Definitions" section of governing standards, such as AS9100 and AS9102, to establish a common vocabulary among all internal and external stakeholders. This prevents miscommunication and ensures that all requirements are correctly interpreted and applied from the start.
Reflects the recommended position based on community discussion and expert review.
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