Right now our inspection sheets are on the shop floor and our control plans are just quality documents we keep internally…and if an auditor asked our operators if they use the control plan, they would say “what is a control plan”. I am new to this position, but I know the control plan should be a living document with our inspection sheets and the operators should have a control plan so they know what to do if a problem arises. What do you guys/gals do at your facility? Do you have control plans in the factory? If so how do you use/manage them for operator use?
Does anyone have control plans and inspection sheets combined on one document? I guess I am looking for suggestions or examples on how to implement this. In a perfect world, as you edit an inspection sheet in a data base such as excel, the control plan will update on another sheet or same sheet. Just don’t know how feasible this is.

Thanks,

My experiences The Control plan between inspection sheet separated. we kept the control plan at the distribution department, the operator won't keep the control plan such as inspection sheet, we used the control plan to identified each process step till inspection.

The control plan is the master plan for controls throughout the production cycles, including inspection. The control plan is used by engineering and management to develop routers, special instructions and yes, inspection plans, but operators and inspectors are not typically shown these master documents so they usually don't know what they are.

My experiences The Control plan between inspection sheet separated. we kept the control plan at the distribution department, the operator won't keep the control plan such as inspection sheet, we used the control plan to identified each process step till inspection.Welcome to the Cove! :bigwave: Thank you for sharing your experience. I look forward to seeing you around!

Right now our inspection sheets are on the shop floor and our control plans are just quality documents we keep internally…and if an auditor asked our operators if they use the control plan, they would say “what is a control plan”. I am new to this position, but I know the control plan should be a living document with our inspection sheets and the operators should have a control plan so they know what to do if a problem arises. What do you guys/gals do at your facility? Do you have control plans in the factory? If so how do you use/manage them for operator use?
Does anyone have control plans and inspection sheets combined on one document? I guess I am looking for suggestions or examples on how to implement this. In a perfect world, as you edit an inspection sheet in a data base such as excel, the control plan will update on another sheet or same sheet. Just don’t know how feasible this is.

Thanks,

On the assumption that you're referring to the AIAG control plan, the format isn't particularly user-friendly and they're often used (a) to satisfy customer requirements and/or (b) as so-called "master" documents that form the basis for shop-floor documentation.

So long as there is a current control plan and the shop documents don't contradict it, there's no auditor should have an issue with there being no copies in the shop, or operator awareness of it. Note that I'm not saying that it's a good idea for operators to be ignorant of the existence of a control plan.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I guess Jim Wynne, you hit the nail on the head. I don't want the operators to be ignorant of the control plans. I want them to now what action to take when a problem arises. I need to find a balance between inspection sheet and control plans...and most of all a way to manage them.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I guess Jim Wynne, you hit the nail on the head. I don't want the operators to be ignorant of the control plans. I want them to now what action to take when a problem arises. I need to find a balance between inspection sheet and control plans...and most of all a way to manage them.

There are ways other than a control plan to make people aware of the requirements. You can integrate the "reaction plan" into the shop floor documentation, or you can provide supplemental training and instructions. For example, you should already have a procedure for handling nonconforming material, and your operators should be aware of it.

In any case, if you feel that a copy of the control plan itself is the best way to go, then that's what you should do.