SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)
Quick facts
| Category | Formal supplier accountability and correction process |
|---|---|
| Used by | Manufacturing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive and other regulated industries |
| Also called | SCAR |
| Related standards | ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, IATF 16949 |
| Related processes | Supplier evaluation, nonconforming product, PO inspections, root cause analysis |
| Semantic match | SCAR, supplier corrective action request, supplier quality accountability, supplier root cause investigation |
What is SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)?
A SCAR is the formal mechanism organizations use to hold suppliers accountable for correcting quality issues tied to their materials, components or services. Unlike a routine nonconformance handled internally, a SCAR is issued directly to the supplier and requires their formal response.
A typical SCAR documents the specific nonconformance, including product and lot details, and requests that the supplier investigate the root cause, propose and implement corrective action, and provide evidence demonstrating the action was effective. Suppliers are usually given a defined response window, often around two weeks, though this varies by organization.
Not every supplier nonconformance warrants a SCAR. Organizations typically reserve SCARs for significant, critical, or recurring issues, since a full formal request for every minor deviation would be neither efficient nor proportionate to the risk involved.
Why is SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request) important?
A SCAR creates formal accountability, ensuring a supplier issue is not just corrected superficially but investigated to its root cause, with evidence required to confirm the fix actually worked.
Because SCARs are typically reserved for significant or recurring issues, they help organizations focus supplier oversight resources where risk is genuinely elevated, rather than treating every minor deviation with the same level of formal scrutiny.
Tracking SCAR data over time, including frequency and root causes by supplier, supports broader supplier evaluation and sourcing decisions, providing objective evidence of which suppliers require closer oversight.
How does SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request) work?
A typical SCAR process includes:
- Identification. A significant or recurring supplier nonconformance is identified, often through incoming inspection or a field issue.
- Issuance. A formal SCAR is issued to the supplier, documenting the issue and requesting a response within a defined timeframe.
- Supplier investigation. The supplier investigates the root cause using tools such as 5 Whys or fishbone analysis.
- Corrective action proposal. The supplier proposes and implements a corrective action addressing the root cause.
- Verification. The organization reviews evidence and, where appropriate, verifies effectiveness.
- Closure. The SCAR is closed once the corrective action is confirmed effective, or escalated if it is not.
SCAR vs. Internal Corrective Action
| Comparison | SCAR | Internal Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Directed at | An external supplier | An internal process or department |
| Trigger | Significant or recurring supplier nonconformance | Any nonconformity warranting root cause investigation |
Real-world examples of SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)
A manufacturer issues a SCAR after a supplier's component repeatedly fails incoming inspection, requiring the supplier to investigate and correct the root cause before further shipments are accepted.
A medical device company issues a SCAR following a critical nonconformance discovered during production, requiring the supplier to provide a formal 8D-style root cause investigation and corrective action plan.
An automotive supplier tracks SCAR trends across its supplier base, identifying that one supplier accounts for a disproportionate share of open SCARs and prioritizing a supplier audit accordingly.
Regulations and standards related to SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)
ISO 9001 Clause 8.4 requires organizations to evaluate and control externally provided products and services, and the SCAR process is a common practical method used to enforce corrective action for supplier nonconformances under that broader requirement.
ISO 13485, AS9100 and IATF 16949 place strong emphasis on formal supplier corrective action processes given the criticality of supplied materials in medical device, aerospace and automotive supply chains, often expecting documented evidence of root cause investigation and effectiveness verification.
Required by
How QT9 helps with SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)
QT9 QMS SCAR capabilities
- Issue formal SCARs directly to suppliers with defined response timeframes.
- Give suppliers portal access to respond to SCARs without email back-and-forth.
- Link SCARs to supplier scorecards and performance metrics for trend analysis.
- Track root cause, corrective action and effectiveness verification in one record.
- Maintain a complete, timestamped history of every SCAR issued.
- Identify supplier risk patterns to prioritize supplier audits.
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Common mistakes with SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Request)
Common mistakes include issuing SCARs for every minor supplier deviation, overwhelming both the organization and its suppliers with formal requests disproportionate to the actual risk involved.
Other problems include accepting a supplier's corrective action response without verifying its effectiveness, and failing to escalate when a supplier repeatedly fails to respond adequately to SCARs over time.
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