QPS 8.7-01 Control of Nonconforming Outputs

Control Nonconforming Products and Services Before Unintended Release

QPS 8.7-01 is an ISO 9001:2026 procedure for identifying and controlling process outputs that do not conform to their requirements, and for deciding what happens to them so they are not used or delivered by mistake. It applies to all nonconforming products, materials and services — whether obtained from external providers, produced or provided in-house, or held in stock.

• Detection: anyone can report a nonconforming output at incoming inspection, intermediate stages, final inspection and release, or after delivery — including through customer complaints.
• Containment: the output is removed from the normal process flow. The template places physical items on a designated hold shelf with a HOLD tag; you can adapt this to a quarantine area or an electronic status control. Services that cannot be physically segregated are suspended or contained until a decision is made.
• Disposition: an authorized person decides on correction, segregation or return, informing the customer, or acceptance under concession, and records the decision in the Nonconformity Protocol.
• Verification: corrected outputs are verified before release, with the results recorded in the Nonconformity Protocol.

As good practice, the template also has disposal take legal requirements and environmental impact into account, with related environmental risks addressed through QPS 6.1-01 Actions to Address Risks, and has the Quality Manager report nonconformity trends monthly as an input to QPS 9.3-01 Management Review. Where a nonconformity needs action to eliminate its cause, a Corrective Action Request is initiated under QPS 10.2-01 Corrective Action.

Download the free Control of Nonconforming Outputs process diagrams

Two one-page diagrams of the clause 8.7 process that QPS 8.7-01 documents. Use them to see the whole flow at a glance, or to brief your team.

• Process diagram: the path of a nonconforming output detected in-house or after delivery, from detection and identification through documenting, customer communication and authorization, to use as-is, acceptance under concession, or product recall
• Four-step overview: detection, containment, disposition and verification, with the decisions recorded in the Nonconformity Protocol

Who Needs This Procedure

This procedure is for organizations implementing ISO 9001:2026 that need a documented, auditable way to stop nonconforming products and services from reaching customers — manufacturers and distributors holding nonconforming stock or incoming material, and service providers who need to suspend or contain a service that can't be set aside on a shelf. It also suits organizations transitioning from ISO 9001:2015 that want their nonconforming-output control to reflect the 2026 edition's attention to quality culture and environmental impact.

Included in the Package

• Editable Microsoft Word — no special software
• 8 pages, including 2 QSF forms (Nonconformity Protocol + Hold Tag)
• Instant download after purchase
• Free PDF sample available above
• Updated for the ISO 9001:2026 edition
• Single-organization use license

FAQ

What's new in the ISO 9001:2026 version of this procedure?

Changes in ISO 9001:2026: the 2026 edition puts new emphasis on fostering a quality culture and on considering climate change and environmental impact in the QMS. This procedure reflects both, by encouraging prompt, open reporting of nonconformities and by linking the disposal of nonconforming outputs to the environmental risks addressed under QPS 6.1-01.

What we added to this template (good practice, not ISO requirements):

• a designated hold shelf and HOLD tag for physical items, which you can adapt to a quarantine area or an electronic status control
• recording the results of verification after correction in the Nonconformity Protocol
• suspending or containing services that cannot be physically segregated
• preferring rework, reuse or recycling over disposal as waste
• treating the reporting of a nonconformity as a contribution to quality rather than a cause for blame
• a monthly report on nonconformity trends as an input to management review

What's included in the package?

An 8-page procedure document that includes two forms: a Nonconformity Protocol (QSF 8.7-01-01) recording the nonconformity, the actions taken, any concession, and the verification results, and a Hold Tag (QSF 8.7-01-02) for identifying segregated nonconforming material.

How does this procedure relate to QPS 10.2-01 Corrective Action?

QPS 8.7-01 deals with the nonconforming output itself — containing it and deciding what happens to it. Where the nonconformity needs action to eliminate its cause, the Process Owner initiates a Corrective Action Request under QPS 10.2-01 Corrective Action.

Are the free process diagrams the same as the procedure?

No. The free 2-page process diagrams PDF shows the Control of Nonconforming Outputs process as diagrams, so you can see the flow at a glance or brief your team. The paid QPS 8.7-01 is the editable 8-page Word procedure that documents the process, assigns responsibilities, and includes the Nonconformity Protocol and Hold Tag forms.

Can I customize it?

Yes — delivered as an editable MS Word document.

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