Defining Specifications
Specifications describe the requirements to which a product should conform. They are three specification types : item, supplier, and customer. Specification can be further defined using subtypes. By carefully defining your specification you can ensure that the correct specification is applied as you collect data.
Each type of specification can be based on either an Item or Item Category. If your specification is based on an Item, you must assign an item and, depending on the item, an item revision. If your specification is based on an Item Category, and you have specified a default category set using the QA:Quality Category Set profile option, you must assign a category.
You can also attach illustrative or explanatory files -- in the form of text, images, word processing documents, spreadsheets, video, and so on -- to specifications. Attachments can be used to document processing instructions as well as inspection and disposition procedures. They can be viewed by operations personnel during quality data collection.
Prerequisites
To define specification header information:
1. Navigate to the Specifications window.
You cannot use the specification before this effective date. If you do not enter a From Effective Date, the specification is effective immediately.
4. Optionally, enter the to Effective date.
You cannot use the specification after this date. Once a specification expires, you cannot select this specification when entering quality result. You can, however, query quality results that were collected using it. If you do not enter a "to" effective date, the specification is valid indefinitely.
To define item specifications:
If you are defining an item category specification, the system automatically defaults the category set defined by the QA:Quality Category Set profile option. It can be overwritten. See: QA:Quality Category Set.
To define supplier specifications:
1. Choose the Supplier Specification radio button.
2. Choose to base the specification on either an Item or an Item Category.
3. If the specification is based on item, select the Item and, optionally, the Revision.
4. If the specification is based on Item Category, select the Item Category and enter the Supplier.
If you are defining an item category specification, the system automatically defaults the category set defined by the QA:Quality Category Set profile option. It can be overwritten.
To define customer specifications:
1. Choose the Customer Specification button.
2. Choose to base the specification on either an Item or an Item Category.
3. If the specification is based on item, select the Item and, optionally, the Revision.
4. If the specification is based on Item Category, select the Item Category and enter the Customer.
If you are defining an item category specification, the system automatically defaults the category set defined by the QA:Quality Category Set profile option. It can be overwritten.
To define specification subtypes:
1. Select a collection element.
2. Enter a value for the specification element.
To define specification elements:
To attach files to specifications:
See Also
Specification Types
Finding Specifications While Entering Quality Results
Overview of Item Categories
Define collection elements. See: Defining Collection Elements.