A job shop runs hundreds of part numbers for dozens of customers, often in quantities of one to a few hundred. Every new job brings a new drawing, new inspection requirements and sometimes a new customer quality clause. A QMS built for a high-volume plant, with months of configuration and a consultant to run it, rarely fits. Here is what to look for instead.
1. It turns a drawing into an inspection plan quickly
In a job shop the drawing is the requirement. Look for software that lets you balloon a drawing once and generate the inspection sheet, first article report and control plan from those same characteristics, so a new job does not mean retyping dimensions three times.
In FactoryQA, Quality Plans balloons the drawing (the AI can do it for you) and Inspection builds sheets and AS9102 first articles from the ballooned characteristics.
2. NCRs take a minute, not a morning
High mix means more nonconformances, and they only get recorded if logging one is quick. Look for an NCR form an operator can fill in at the machine, with containment and disposition on the same record, and a corrective action that can close several related NCRs at once.
3. Calibration and training are not separate spreadsheets
Auditors check that every gage used was in calibration and every operator was trained for the job. If those live in separate spreadsheets, you find the gaps during the audit. Look for one system where gage due dates, certificates and the training matrix sit next to the jobs they support.
4. Suppliers can answer without a login
Job shops rely on outside processors for plating, heat treat and NDT. A supplier portal that lets them answer a SCAR or upload a certificate without creating an account gets you answers faster.
5. It works with your ERP, not instead of it
Your ERP (JobBOSS², Epicor, Realtrac or another) already holds customers, part numbers and work orders. A QMS should read those, not ask you to keep two lists. Ask which ERPs have ready-made connectors and how other systems are handled.
6. The price fits a small team
Per-seat pricing with cheap read-only seats lets the whole shop see procedures and records while you pay for the people who edit them. A free plan or trial lets you test with real jobs before committing.
7. It helps you get and stay certified
Many job shops buy a QMS because a customer requires AS9100 or ISO 9001. Look for help writing the quality manual and procedures, a way to see how ready you are for the audit, and internal audit tools to stay certified afterwards.
A short checklist
- Balloon a drawing and get the inspection sheet and FAI from it
- Log an NCR at the machine in under a minute
- Gages, training and jobs in one place
- Supplier portal without logins
- Connector for your ERP, or CSV import
- Read-only seats for the shop floor
- A free plan or trial to test on real jobs
- Readiness scoring and internal audits for your standard