Receiving Inspection Techniques - What can we do to improve our current system?

[Alf Gulford]

I know this could be a huge question, but I promised I'd ask.

Our Receiving Inspection department currently uses good, solid (if unimaginative) inspection and reporting techniques. We know they're good because we've been doing the same thing for many years and the results have been acceptable. Now they're trying to climb out of the 'box,' thinking that there may be more efficient ways in terms of time and accuracy, e.g.; carrying laptops with current parts fabrication drawings to the inspection area(s), to be used both for inspecting and documenting (even this is old tech, but new to us).

While inspection is in my background, I was part of the old 'good, solid' system and don't know where to suggest they go to get really new ideas. No one's looking for change for the sake of change, they just want possibilities to consider.

Can anyone help with some direction here?

Thank you. Alf

[Geoff Cotton]

Why not start with a question like.....

"Why do we need to keep suffering the on-cost of goods inwards inspection?"

Sorry if you did not want to hear that and for being a little blunt. In the eighties we had around 30 goods inwards inspectors, now we have reliable suppliers and no inspectors.

Regards

Geoff

I agree with Geoff,

Work with your suppliers on the prevention side and reduce the detection side on your end.

This may take some time, but quantifying an inspection frequency reduction with the proper sampling plans will reduce your cost and improve supplier performance.

ASD...

[Alf Gulford]

Thanks for the replies. My goal years ago was to eliminate my job by certifying our suppliers. Maybe it's time to start pushing that idea again.

Regards, Alf.

[Tom Goetzinger]

I hope that by certifying suppliers, you mean that you will verify that they have the processes in place to ensure that the next lot of parts you get are correct. Too many companies certify based on historical performance, and then find that when the guy who knew how to make your part left (died, quit, whatever) all you get is junk until someone else figures out how to make it.
Just IMHO.