A supplier NCR is a non-conformance record used to document a quality issue associated with a supplier, such as defective incoming material, incorrect documentation, or a problem found after supplier-provided processing. In manufacturing, it commonly refers to the formal record that identifies the defect, affected parts or lots, scope, disposition status, and required follow-up with the supplier.
The term is used in quality, receiving, supplier management, and ERP or MES-connected workflows. A supplier NCR may be opened when an issue is found at incoming inspection, on the shop floor, or later in assembly if the cause traces back to supplied product or service. The record often supports communication of evidence to the supplier so they can assess impact, contain further shipments, investigate cause, and respond with corrective action.
Supplier NCR should not be confused with a general internal NCR, which may cover issues caused by in-house processes, or with a supplier corrective action request (SCAR), which is a specific request for supplier investigation and action. In many organizations, the NCR is the core quality record, while a SCAR is issued from or linked to that record when supplier response is required.