The operating question
Most inspections find something. The decision is which findings can ship and which cannot.
What to decide, in order
- Classify by consequence, not by size. A large cosmetic mark on a hidden surface and a small tolerance miss on a functional edge are not the same severity.
- Give every class a default action. Release, rework, replace, hold for the brand — write the default so the decision is not made under delivery pressure.
- Escalate the class that needs a brand decision. Some findings are commercial judgements. Route them to the owner with the evidence attached.
Quick reference
| Decision | What it settles |
|---|---|
| Classify by consequence, not by size. | A large cosmetic mark on a hidden surface and a small tolerance miss on a functional edge are not the same severity. |
| Give every class a default action. | Release, rework, replace, hold for the brand — write the default so the decision is not made under delivery pressure. |
| Escalate the class that needs a brand decision. | Some findings are commercial judgements. Route them to the owner with the evidence attached. |
Where the handoff usually breaks
Triage fails when every finding is escalated equally: the important decision gets delayed behind a queue of cosmetic ones.
What good looks like
The classification is agreed before inspection, so the report arrives with a decision attached instead of a question.
Placeholder article prepared for layout review. The operating guidance above is generic; replace it with your own verified content before the public launch.
