Meaning
A formal authorization to accept a batch of materials that deviates from original design specifications allows production to proceed without the delay of scrapping otherwise usable goods. This approval is called a variance concession and is granted only after a thorough review by engineering and quality teams. It represents a structured deviation from the baseline.
Engineering Analysis
Determining whether the deviation affects the safety or function of the final product is the primary task during the review. If the part meets secondary criteria, a variance concession is issued to allow its integration on the line. This analysis avoids unnecessary material waste.
Quality Standard
Allowing too many exceptions can compromise the integrity of the finished assembly. Quality managers must limit the use of a variance concession to specific non-critical dimensions to maintain overall performance. This restraint ensures that product reliability remains high.
Traceability Record
Every approved deviation must be documented and linked to the specific serial numbers of the affected units. This documentation ensures that if a field failure occurs, engineers can trace it back to the specific variance concession that was granted. The database provides a clear audit trail for regulators.
It protects the firm from liability by proving that the deviation was analyzed and approved before shipment. This tracing is a standard requirement in highly regulated industries.
