Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “prepare certificates of conformance and customer quality reports”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

30 min
typically, a few times a week
60%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Run NCRs, CAPAs and records through the quality system

A quality management system routes NCRs and CAPAs to the right people with reminders, keeps every record linked and searchable, and makes audit packs and certificates a few clicks instead of days.

Typically saves about 40% of the time8 h to set up
  1. 1Check which quality system your company has (ETQ, MasterControl, Intelex, Qualio or your ERP's quality module).
  2. 2Move your paper or spreadsheet NCR and CAPA forms into it.
  3. 3Set up routing and reminder rules.
  4. 4Build saved searches or reports for each audit standard and for certificates.

Tools: ETQ Reliance · MasterControl · Intelex · Qualio · ERP quality module

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Build the report once so it refreshes itself

Connect the spreadsheet or dashboard straight to the source so next week's report is already done.

Typically saves about 80% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1List where each number comes from.
  2. 2Use Power Query (Excel), a connected sheet, or a Google Data Studio or Power BI dashboard pulling from the source.
  3. 3Schedule the refresh and send the link instead of an attachment.

Tools: Excel Power Query · Power BI · Google Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) · Google Sheets connectors

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Quality / QA inspector

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Other common tasks for Quality / QA inspectors