Quality Management Systems in Epicor Kinetic: Which One Fits Your Needs?

Is your current quality management system meeting your needs to accomplish the quality goals in your company? Have your needs recently changed for a Quality Assurance module? Are you curious about what other quality management solutions Epicor offers?

Epicor Kinetic offers 3 levels of Quality Assurance (QA) to help with satisfying your needs for accomplishing your quality goals:

Basic Quality Assurance

Enhanced Quality Module

Advanced Quality Assurance (a third-party module add-on) powered by ETQ

In this article, we’ll explain each Epicor Kinetic quality assurance module clearly so you can easily determine which solution fits your business best.

Overview of Quality Management Systems in Epicor Kinetic

The Basic Quality Management System (QMS) in Epicor Kinetic

Most organizations will only need the Basic QMS system. It covers performing and recording the most basic quality processes, such as:

Scrapping parts that were manufactured or inventory parts found to be non-compliant.

Dispositioning non-compliant parts to be reworked.

Tracking First Article Inspections (FAIs).

Rejecting incoming non-compliant raw materials and/or outsourced operation parts from suppliers.

Assisting with the processing of customer-returned goods (RMAs).

Corrective and preventive actions.

Inspection Processing Landing Page in Kinetic

Prior to Kinetic screens, the old Inspection processing page was made up of a series of tabs based on the Transaction Type. Now, a column shows the Transaction Type, which can be filtered/sorted by type(s).

But if your company needs features beyond basic inspection, Epicor’s Enhanced Quality Assurance Module might be the one you are looking for.

Enhanced Quality Assurance ERP Module in Kinetic

The enhanced QA module is the second tier of quality systems that Epicor offers for its Kinetic product. It contains all the features from its Basic Quality module and additional features to capture inspection data within the database using Inspection Plans.

When the inspection data is entered into the system by an inspector using the inspection plan, it automatically flags parts as Pass or Fail, helping to reduce human error. Enhanced Quality can help you with recording any employee training as well.

Features found only in Enhanced Quality

Inspection plans: You can create inspection plans by defining inspection attributes and specifications. The inspection plan is designed using the Configurator designer included with the module and linked to a part revision, return material authorization, job material, and/or job operation to capture data. Test results are stored for future analysis. You can also create an inspection plan for incoming raw materials.

Skipping Lot Control: You can choose Skip Lot Control for suppliers that provide you with parts if needed. The Skip Lot process determines rules for inspection frequency of parts upon receipt.
Tracking Employee Training: Using internal training in Enhanced Quality, you can set up education courses for employees and track their success.

Configurator Input List

Part of setting up an inspection plan is working with the internal configurator. Below is a sample of the Input List for the configurator to measure data.

In this card, you set up what needs to be inspected, listing a range of passing values. Anything outside of that range fails inspection.

Skip Code Maintenance Landing Page

Below is the Landing Page for the Skip Code Maintenance (Skip Lot Control Code).

How to Set SMART Goals and Better Align Your Processes

Each Skip Code set up is shown on the landing page, as well as what to do when the code is used for a Supplier.

For organizations requiring even more robust capabilities and customization, Epicor provides Advanced Quality Assurance powered by ETQ.

Advanced Quality Management System Powered by ETQ

If your company needs more than Epicor’s enhanced QMS manufacturing system, the third quality option may be what you are looking for: Advanced Quality Assurance powered by ETQ.

This is a third-party, web-based quality management system interfacing with Epicor Kinetic. It provides a high level of quality data and reporting rolled up into a quality management software package.

Modules Included in Advanced Quality Assurance by ETQ

Advanced Quality is a QMS solution set up in modules, as seen in this screenshot below.

A list of some of the QMS tools included are:

Audit Management

Nonconformance Reporting

Assets, Calibration and Maintenance

Corrective Action (CAPA/SCAR)

Supplier Rating

Suppliers, Materials and Chemicals

Customer Feedback

Product Specification Management

Document Management (and archive for audits management)

Risk Management

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library

Monitoring and Inspection

Permit Control
And more

What Should You Expect When Implementing a QMS Such As Advanced Quality by ETQ?

If you choose this option, here is what you can expect.

Each window or form is customized per your specifications.
You will see a demonstration of the out-of-the-box module.
Your team will take 3 – 6 hours to review specific required changes with a solution consultant for each process.
The consultant will document the changes in a spec document your team will review to ensure that everything they requested is included. Once that is complete, they will sign off on the changes.
Next, the consultant will build the customizations, preview them, and release them for testing with your team.
Once the testing is complete, the customized screens will be submitted for validation (usually for highly regulated industries) or straight to your production screens.
Someone from your staff can take the expansive training to teach them how to make these modifications for future changes.

In summary, there is a quality module for everyone, from simple to complex. The choice is yours.

Choosing the Right System to Manage Quality, Ensure Compliance and Improve Operational Efficiency

With all these options, it can be challenging to decide. At TeccWeb, we understand the importance of quality management in the manufacturing industry. Sectors such as medical devices manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech have rigorous production processes and must comply with strict regulatory compliance standards while still being able to meet customer demands.

We can help you find the perfect match with our expert quality management system consulting. We help simplify this choice, guiding you to the ideal quality management system for Epicor Kinetic, based on your unique business needs.

Our Epicor experts help you clearly define your requirements, ensure compliance, and maximize operational efficiency. With TeccWeb, your quality control decisions become straightforward, ensuring your ERP system delivers the greatest possible return on investment.

Beth Rye