---
title: "Quality Management Glossary: 35 Terms Explained | FactoryQA"
description: Plain definitions of 35 quality terms, from NCR, CAPA and 8D to PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, SPC, Cpk and Gage R&R, with links to where each lives in FactoryQA.
image: https://factoryqa.com/hubfs/fqa-og-res-quality-glossary.png
---

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Glossary

# Quality Management Glossary: 35 Terms Explained

Plain definitions of 35 quality terms, from NCR, CAPA and 8D to PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, SPC, Cpk and Gage R&R, with links to where each lives in FactoryQA.

FactoryQA quality teamOctober 25, 2026

### 8D (Eight Disciplines)

A structured problem-solving method that moves a team from forming and containing a problem through root cause, permanent corrective action and verification, to preventing recurrence and recognising the team. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### 5 Whys

A root cause technique: ask why a problem happened, then why that cause happened, until you reach a cause you can act on. Usually about five rounds. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)

The automotive framework (AIAG) for planning a new part so it can be made right first time: from design inputs through process flow, PFMEA and control plan to PPAP approval. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### AS9100

The quality management standard for aviation, space and defense organizations. It contains all of ISO 9001 plus requirements for risk, configuration management, counterfeit parts, product safety and first article inspection. The current revision is AS9100D. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)

### AS9102 (First Article Inspection)

The aerospace standard for first article inspection reports: three forms that record part accountability, product accountability (materials, special processes) and the measured result for every characteristic on the drawing. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/inspection-sheets)

### Approved supplier list (ASL, AVL)

The list of suppliers you have evaluated and approved for specific products or processes, with their scope, certifications and status. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/supplier-management)

### Ballooned drawing

A drawing with a numbered balloon on every characteristic (dimension, tolerance, note) so each one can be traced to an inspection result, an FAI line or a control plan row. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action)

The process of finding the root cause of a problem, fixing it so it does not recur (corrective) and acting on risks before they cause a problem (preventive), with proof that the action worked. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### CAR (Corrective Action Request)

A formal request, usually internal, to investigate a nonconformance and implement a corrective action. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### Calibration

Comparing a measuring instrument against a reference standard of known accuracy, traceable to national standards, and adjusting or recording its error, at a set interval. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/calibration-management)

### Containment

The immediate action that stops suspect product from reaching the customer while the root cause is found: quarantine, sorting, inspection or recall. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### Control plan

A document that lists each process step, the characteristics controlled there, how they are measured, how often, and what to do when a result is out of specification. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### Cp and Cpk (Process capability indices)

Measures of how well a stable process fits within its specification. Cp compares the spread to the tolerance width; Cpk also accounts for how well the process is centred. A Cpk of 1.33 or higher is a common target. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/inspection-sheets)

### Document control

The process that makes sure people use the current, approved revision of every procedure, work instruction and form, and that changes are reviewed, approved and communicated. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/document-control)

### eQMS (Electronic quality management system)

Software that holds a quality management system's documents, records and workflows (NCRs, CAPAs, audits, training, calibration) in place of paper, binders and spreadsheets. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/feature-overview)

### Fishbone diagram (Ishikawa diagram)

A root cause tool that sorts possible causes of a problem into categories such as man, machine, method, material, measurement and environment. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### Gage R&R (Gage repeatability and reproducibility)

A study that measures how much of your measurement variation comes from the gage itself (repeatability) and from different operators (reproducibility), compared with the tolerance or the process variation. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/calibration-management)

### IATF 16949

The quality management standard for automotive production and service parts organizations, built on ISO 9001 with automotive-specific requirements and customer-specific requirements. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)

### Internal audit

An audit your own trained auditors carry out to check that your QMS meets the standard and your own procedures, and works in practice. Required by ISO 9001 and its sector standards. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/audit-management)

### ISO 9001

The international standard for quality management systems. The current edition is ISO 9001:2015; AS9100, IATF 16949 and others build on it. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)

### ISO 13485

The quality management standard for medical device organizations, focused on regulatory requirements, risk management and traceability. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)

### Management review

A regular review by top management of how the QMS is performing (audit results, customer feedback, objectives, nonconformances) and what to change. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/qualitybi-dashboard)

### NCR (Nonconformance report)

A record that a product, process or material did not meet a requirement, with what was found, how much is affected and the disposition (use as is, rework, repair, scrap, return). [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)

A structured review of each process step to list how it could fail, the effect on the customer, the causes and current controls, and to prioritize actions. The AIAG-VDA handbook is the current automotive method. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)

The automotive process (AIAG) for proving to a customer that your production process makes parts that meet every requirement. It has 18 elements, from design records to the part submission warrant. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### Preventive maintenance (PM)

Planned, recurring maintenance on equipment based on time or usage, to prevent breakdowns and keep machines capable. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/preventive-maintenance-factoryqa)

### Process flow diagram

A diagram of every step a part goes through, from receiving to shipping, that the PFMEA and control plan are built from. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)

### QMS (Quality management system)

The documented processes, responsibilities and records an organization uses to meet customer and regulatory requirements and to improve. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/feature-overview)

### Quality manual

The top-level QMS document that describes the scope of the system and how the organization meets each clause of its standard. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/qms-generator)

### Registrar audit (Certification audit)

The audit by an accredited certification body (registrar) that decides whether to certify your QMS to a standard, followed by surveillance audits. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/certification-services)

### Root cause analysis (RCA)

Finding the underlying cause of a problem, rather than its symptom, using tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams and 8D. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)

### SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)

A corrective action request sent to a supplier when their product or service did not meet your requirements, asking for containment, root cause and corrective action. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/supplier-management)

### SPC (Statistical process control)

Using control charts of measured results to see whether a process is stable and to react to trends before parts go out of tolerance. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/inspection-sheets)

### Supplier scorecard

A periodic rating of each supplier on measures such as on-time delivery, quality (rejects, SCARs) and responsiveness. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/supplier-management)

### Training matrix

A grid of people against the skills, procedures and courses their job requires, showing who is qualified and whose training is due. [See it in FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/products/learning-management-system)

Keep reading

## More from Resources

[Supplier quality**Counterfeit parts prevention for manufacturers**What AS9100D clause 8.1.4 asks for on counterfeit parts, and the sourcing, receiving, quarantine and training controls that keep suspect parts out.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/counterfeit-parts-prevention)[Supplier quality**Controlling outsourced special processes**How to control outsourced special processes such as heat treat, plating, welding and NDT: qualified sources, complete orders, evidence and supplier audits.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/controlling-special-processes)[Supplier quality**Supplier PPAP: how to request, review and approve**When to request a supplier PPAP, how to choose the submission level, what to check in each element, and the most common reasons PPAPs get rejected.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/supplier-ppap-guide)

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