When a part fails at the customer, a supplier has to show within hours which lot, which machine, which operator and which raw material batch it came from. With measurements on paper and PPAP files scattered across folders, an 8D report takes days and points are lost at the customer audit. In the system we build, every production batch is recorded as a chain from the material certificate to the delivery note. Measurements are entered on a line-side tablet and an alert fires when control limits are exceeded; when a complaint arrives, the affected lots are listed with a single search and the 8D steps move forward inside the system.
Problems we see at automotive suppliers
- Not being able to find which lot a faulty part came from
- Measurement and inspection records left on paper
- 8D reports and corrective actions closed without follow-up
- PPAP and revision documents scattered everywhere
Modules
Lot traceability
Forward and backward tracing between raw material batch, work order, machine, operator and shipment.
Control plan
Characteristics, measurement frequency and tolerances defined per part and operation.
SPC and measurement
Line-side measurement entry, control charts and Cpk calculation.
Complaints and 8D
Customer complaints managed through the 8D steps with owners, deadlines and evidence.
PPAP and documents
Drawings, FMEA, process flow and revision history in a single archive.
Calibration
Calibration dates and certificates for gauges, with a block on use when overdue.
How it works day to day
- 1
Incoming material is accepted against its certificate and given a batch number.
- 2
A work order is opened and the first-piece approval is done at the line.
- 3
The operator enters the control-plan measurements on the tablet.
- 4
Finished goods ship with a lot label and are linked to the delivery note.
- 5
If a complaint comes in, the affected lots are found and the 8D process starts.
Integrations
Off-the-shelf software or custom-built?
When off-the-shelf is enough
For a workshop making a few part types for one customer, the quality module of an ERP and tidy Excel templates may be enough.
When custom software pays off
Suppliers that serve several OEMs, face frequent audits and need lot-level traceability quickly recover the cost of a custom quality system that runs from the line to the shipping dock.
How the budget is built
We launch the workflow that saves you the most time first, then add modules based on real usage. The full scope below is calculated with 22 screens and 10 modules; the final price follows a free discovery call and a written scope.
Maintenance and improvements (optional): €550 / month. Hosting, SMS, WhatsApp and app store fees are listed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work alongside our existing ERP?
Yes. Work orders, stock and shipment data are pulled from the ERP and quality records are linked to them in this system.
How do operators enter measurements?
They pick the part on the line-side tablet and the characteristics appear in sequence; data can be read directly from digital gauges.
Does it help with an IATF 16949 audit?
Keeping records traceable, dated and approved prepares the evidence auditors ask for; the certification itself remains your own process.
Can old quality records be migrated?
Measurement, complaint and calibration lists kept in Excel are imported, and scanned documents are added to the archive.
