What is the purpose of SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request) in supplier QA?

• A. To notify supplier of a minor observation.
• B. To request a quote for a new part.
• C. To update the supplier on design changes.
• D. To address a nonconformance and require a corrective action from the supplier.

Answer: (D)

SCAR is used when a supplier delivers a part or process that doesn’t meet requirements, and its purpose is to drive formal corrective action from the supplier to prevent recurrence. It documents the nonconformance, mandates containment or disposition of the affected item, and requires the supplier to perform a root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions with a clear responsibility, schedule, and verification of effectiveness. The focus is on permanent resolution and accountability, not just notification or procurement activities. For example, a SCAR outlines what failed, why it failed, how the supplier will fix it, how quickly the fix will be implemented, and how we will verify that the fix works. Other choices aren’t correct because a minor observation is a lighter, informal communication, a quote request is a purchasing action, and updating on design changes is handled through change-notification processes rather than a corrective-action workflow.