Re: Basics of MRB
Hello everyone,
As part of my Aeronautical Engineering studies I have an assignment asking us to create a plan for a New Technology (at this stage undetermined) to achieve zero MRB. I wonder if someone on the forum could please explain the basics of an MRB: when and why it is required, who is part of it and what it seeks to achieve. My patchy understanding is that it aims to reduce material waste by evaluating inefficiencies in a production process.
Many thanks,
Edward
Edward,
Welcome
The Materials Review Board usually comprises a cross section of functions that would have been involved in design reviews had design and engineering been well planned and well managed.
The MRB usually finds itself dealing with product nonconformity caused by all sorts of evidence of poor design management:
- Over specification (for example, tolerances tighter than required)
- Lack of manufacturability (for example, designs that cannot be ramped-up to mass production)
- Customers complaining about a lack of maintainability (for example, designs that resulted in products that are difficult or expensive to maintain)
- Lack of customer focus (for example, user needs ignored as a design input)
The MRB may also have to deal with the consequences of inadequate supplier selection criteria or poor application of said criteria.
The MRB will make decisions on what to do with nonconforming material or nonconforming product, such as:
- Use-as-is (a design change)
- Rework
- Repair (a design change)
- Regrade for alternative use
- Reject or scrap
- Redesign the product
As you can see, the MRB habit is very expensive and should result in corrective action to remove the root causes of the product nonconformity. In a well-designed system, that is also well-used for several years, the need for the MRB would disappear.
Summary, "zero MRB" could be another way of saying "zero product nonconformity" (caused by design) or "design for six sigma" (a key search term). Do not forget the other causes of MRB meetings: product nonconformity caused by poor management of production and purchasing.
You can find the widely accepted criteria for design control in clauses 4.1 and 7.3 of ISO 9001:2008. Refer to clauses 4.1 and 7.4 for purchasing controls and to clauses 4.1 and the rest of clause 7 for production. In fact, refer to the whole standard being that it specifies criteria for a management system to remove the need for MRB (even if you are not interested in certification).
Good luck in your studies,
John