Tightened Inspection
Meaning ~ High-severity attribute sampling protocol triggered by consecutive lot failures to increase buyer protection and pressure suppliers to improve quality.
Discontinuation Rule
Meaning
Statistical triggers within a sampling plan that mandate the cessation of inspection when quality levels fall consistently below a minimum standard. The discontinuation rule protects the buyer from continuing to evaluate shipments that clearly fail to meet the required quality. It forces the supplier to address systemic issues before any further goods are presented for review.
Shutdown Mechanism
Automated systems or manual protocols activate the rule after several consecutive lot rejections. This discontinuation rule prevents the waste of inspection resources on a production line that is out of control.
Restart Requirement
Resuming the inspection process requires more than a simple request from the manufacturer. A buyer may demand a full audit of the facility or a pilot run of a small batch to verify that the root cause is solved. These requirements ensure that the quality levels are stable before normal testing resumes.
Documentation of the fix must be submitted and approved by the quality assurance team before any new lots are scheduled for arrival.
Supplier Pressure
The threat of a triggered discontinuation rule incentivizes the factory to maintain high standards. Losing the ability to ship goods halts the flow of cash and risks the loss of future contracts. This mechanism belongs to the risk management framework of a long-term sourcing relationship.