Decision Lab
Material acceptance
The material has arrived. Can it be accepted for use?
Try the decision logic. There is no score: choose a decision and compare it with a professional review.
01Situation
Illustrative scenario
A delivery arrives against an open purchase order for a spare that requires a material certificate. Receipt is a logistics event: it records that something arrived. Acceptance is a technical and governance decision: it says the material can be used. Check the gates and decide the status of the delivery.
- Order
- Open purchase order line, 2 EA
- Requirement
- Specified part number; material certificate required
- Receipt
- Delivery recorded at the warehouse
02Signals
- Identity: part number and markingMatches the order line · Part number differs by a suffix · A different item
- QuantityAs ordered · Fewer than ordered · More than ordered
- CertificatePresent and matching the item · Copy only · Missing
- Physical conditionNo damage · Packaging damaged, item looks intact · Item damaged
- Technical conformityMeets the specification · In doubt · Not yet checked
03Decision
- Accept for use
- Hold in quarantine
- Clarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
- Reject
04Professional review
The interactive review needs JavaScript. Without it, the complete logic is in the rules below.
How the review is reached
The rules are checked from the top; the first one that matches the signals gives the professional position. Values in square brackets are filled in with the calculated numbers.
IfIdentity: part number and marking: A different item
Professional positionReject
ConditionalHold in quarantine
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The delivered item is not the ordered item. It cannot be accepted, whatever the documents say.
IfPhysical condition: Item damaged
Professional positionHold in quarantine
ConditionalReject
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The item is damaged. It stays out of use until the damage is assessed; any return or replacement goes through procurement.
IfCertificate: Missing
Professional positionHold in quarantine
ConditionalClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The required certificate is missing. Documentation is part of the material: without it the item is incomplete and is held until the certificate arrives.
IfTechnical conformity: In doubt
Professional positionHold in quarantine
ConditionalClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
Any other decision: escalation required
Technical conformity is in doubt. That is a decision for engineering, and the item stays out of use until it is made.
IfTechnical conformity: Not yet checked
Professional positionHold in quarantine
ConditionalClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
Any other decision: insufficient information
Technical conformity has not been checked yet. Receipt is recorded; acceptance waits for the check.
IfIdentity: part number and marking: Part number differs by a suffix
Professional positionClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
ConditionalHold in quarantine
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The part number differs by a suffix. A suffix can mean a different material, rating or revision, so the difference has to be explained before acceptance.
IfCertificate: Copy only
Professional positionClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
ConditionalHold in quarantine
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The certificate is a copy. Whether a copy is acceptable depends on the requirement: confirm it, or request the original, before the item is used.
IfQuantity: More than ordered
Professional positionClarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
ConditionalHold in quarantine
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
More was delivered than ordered. The ordered quantity can be accepted once the other gates are clear; the extra is clarified with procurement, not taken into stock silently.
IfPhysical condition: Packaging damaged, item looks intact
Professional positionAccept for use
ConditionalHold in quarantine, Clarify with the supplier, engineering or QA/QC
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
The packaging is damaged but the item is intact, identified and documented. It can be accepted once the inspection is recorded and the preservation restored.
IfQuantity: Fewer than ordered
Professional positionAccept for use
ConditionalHold in quarantine
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
Fewer items arrived than ordered. The delivered items meet every gate and can be accepted; the order line stays open for the balance.
IfAny other combination
Professional positionAccept for use
Any other decision: not supported by the signals
Identity, quantity, documents, condition and technical conformity all hold. The material can be accepted and released for use.
Illustrative scenario. The gates follow the acceptance framework in the connected case; it is a framework, not a company procedure, and gate owners are generic functions.