Technical Article

When a Supplier Fails QA: What to Do

A failed incoming inspection is stressful but manageable. Here is how to recover without halting your line.

Contain and quantify

Quarantine the lot, run a full dimensional and visual audit, and separate good from bad. Data — not blame — drives the fix.

Root-cause with the supplier

Get the CMM reports, identify the drifting characteristic, and agree a corrective action. A good supplier responds fast with evidence.

Quality rescue options

Where parts are salvageable, re-work or 100% sort can bridge supply while a new lot is made. ProtoTech offers exactly this kind of rescue for equipment makers.

Frequently asked questions

Should I reject the whole lot?

Only after a real audit — often a sub-population is bad, and sorting saves cost and time.

How fast can rescue happen?

Depends on volume and access; a 100% sort can often start within days of the finding.