How is a quality defect typically classified in LPWS?

• A. By severity (critical, major, minor) with corresponding corrective actions.
• B. By color of the defect.
• C. By the time of discovery.
• D. By the cost to fix.

Answer: (A)

Defects are classified by the impact they have on product safety, function, and customer satisfaction, so the response can be matched to risk. In LPWS, defects are categorized into critical, major, and minor, and each category has a corresponding level of action.

A critical defect is one that stops the process or creates a serious safety or regulatory risk. It calls for immediate containment, quarantine of affected items, and urgent disposition plus rapid investigation to prevent recurrence. A major defect affects functionality or compliance but doesn’t halt production, so it still needs prompt investigation and corrective action, though not in the same emergency mode as a critical defect. A minor defect has limited impact—often cosmetic or easily tolerable—and is typically addressed through routine repairs or accepted with minimal intervention.

This severity-based approach ensures resources and attention are directed to the most significant problems and guides appropriate corrective actions, rather than relying on less informative factors like color, discovery time, or cost to fix.