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QHSE Glossary

NCR

Non-Conformance Report — a formal record of a product, process, or service that does not meet specified requirements.

NCR

NCR (Non-Conformance Report) is a critical concept in quality, health, safety, and environmental management.

What Is NCR?

A Non-Conformance Report (NCR) is a formal document that records a deviation from specified requirements — whether in a product, process, service, or management system. NCRs are classified by severity: Critical (safety risk or regulatory breach), Major (significant departure from requirements), Minor (isolated non-conformance with limited impact), and Observation (area for improvement). An effective NCR process includes: identification, documentation, containment/segregation, root cause investigation, corrective action, verification, and closure. NCR trending reveals systemic issues that individual reports may not show.

NCR Requirements Under UK Law

ISO 9001:2015 Clause 8.7 requires control of nonconforming outputs — organisations must identify, segregate, and disposition nonconforming products/services. ISO 9001 Clause 10.2 requires reaction to nonconformities including corrective action. AS9100 adds requirements for NCR classification, timely disposition, and supplier notification. In regulated industries (pharmaceutical, medical devices, aerospace), unresolved NCRs can trigger FDA Warning Letters, MHRA enforcement actions, or NADCAP withdrawal. Average cost of a single NCR in manufacturing: £2,500-£15,000 including investigation, rework, and administrative time.

Key Components of NCR

  • Product NCR
  • Process NCR
  • System NCR (audit finding)
  • Supplier NCR
  • Customer complaint NCR
  • Internal vs External NCR

NCR in Practice

An automotive parts manufacturer processes 1,200 components per day and identifies NCRs using Q-Hub's mobile inspection forms. When a CMM (coordinate measuring machine) detects an out-of-tolerance bore, the operator raises an NCR from their workstation in under 60 seconds. The system auto-notifies the Quality Engineer, quarantines the batch (25 parts), and opens a CAPA if the same defect code appears 3+ times in 30 days. Monthly NCR trending shows a 40% reduction in dimensional non-conformances after implementing tool-life monitoring alerts.

How to Manage NCR with Q-Hub

Q-Hub provides comprehensive tools for NCR management. The Capa Management module handles the core requirements. Combined with document control, audit scheduling, and training management, Q-Hub ensures your NCR processes are audit-ready at all times.

Related Terms

Want to see how Q-Hub handles NCR in practice? Book a demo or see pricing.

Related QHSE Terms

  • AS9100 — The aerospace quality management standard, based on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for aviati
  • Audit — A systematic, independent examination of processes, products, or systems to verify compliance with d
  • Bow-Tie Analysis — A visual risk assessment method that maps the causes of an event, the event itself, its consequences
  • CAPA — Corrective and Preventive Action — a systematic approach to investigating root causes of non-conform
  • COSHH — Control of Substances Hazardous to Health — UK regulations requiring employers to control exposure t
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