Reporting and documentation are fundamental aspects of the modern quality control (QC) laboratory. Whether using digital imaging to document a defect on a mission-critical subcomponent, performing micron-level measurements of wear on precision machined parts, or collecting important statistical information on the roundness of orifices in nozzles between production runs, virtually all pertinent QC information needs to be documented in the form of a report. Reporting has a number of vital purposes: It helps serve as proof of the organization’s methods and processes; it provides documentation to other entities that may want to purchase products from the organization for resale or incorporation into other products; it offers the manufacturer the opportunity to refine materials or processes to improve on the design or the production process; and it helps the organization find areas of weakness that it can address in terms of quality or efficiency.

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