Quality Control

Quality control ensures products meet your standards before they reach customers. TimberCloud integrates QC workflows into your production process to catch issues before shipping.

Quality Control Overview

Quality control in TimberCloud is handled through:

• Order Statuses — Track orders through the Inspection phase
• Station Progression — Move items through QC stations
• Shop Interface — Dedicated QC view for production teams
• Checklist Verification — Confirm quality standards are met

Quality Control Workflow

Order Flow to QC

Orders reach quality control through the standard status progression:

Ordered → In Production → Inspection → Ready to Ship → Shipped

When an order's status changes to Inspection:

1. dateInspection is automatically set
2. "Order in Inspection" notification sent
3. Order appears in QC queue
4. Shop floor can begin quality checks

The QC Process

Access QC functionality in the Shop Section:

Step 1: Review the Order

1. Open the order from the QC queue
2. View all line items and specifications
3. Compare physical products against order details
4. Check each item systematically

Step 2: Verify Quality Standards

For each item, verify:

• Dimensions — Match ordered specifications
• Material — Correct type and finish
• Assembly — Proper construction
• Appearance — No defects or damage
• Accessories — All components included

Step 3: Mark Items

Step 4: Complete Inspection

Once all items are verified:

1. Mark order as Ready to Ship (or your equivalent status)
2. Order moves to shipping queue
3. Production team is notified

Station-Based Tracking

What Are Stations?

Stations represent physical stages in your production workflow. Configure them in Order Settings.

Example stations:

• CNC
• Assembly
• Finishing
• QC
• Packing
• Shipping

Using Stations with QC

As products move through your shop:

1. Workers mark items complete at each station
2. Station history is recorded in order timeline
3. When all stations complete, order is ready for final QC
4. QC station is typically the last production step

Benefits of Stations

• Visibility — Know exactly where each order is
• Accountability — Track who completed what
• Planning — Dashboard shows orders at each station
• Bottleneck Detection — Identify slowdowns

After QC: The Shipping Phase

Once an order passes quality control and is marked Ready to Ship, it enters the shipping phase. For complete information on shipping orders, see the Shipping & Logistics section.

Key steps after QC:

1. Book Shipment — If using Carrier Services, book the shipment with the carrier
2. Generate Labels — Print shipping labels for packages
3. Dispatch — Ship the packages and mark order as Shipped
4. Track Delivery — Monitor tracking until delivery confirmation

Notifications

QC Notifications

Customers can receive notifications during QC:

Team Notifications

Staff receive notifications for:

• Orders ready for QC
• QC issues requiring attention
• Orders ready to ship

QC Best Practices

For Quality Control

1. Consistent Standards — Document what passes/fails
2. Training — Ensure all QC staff know the criteria
3. Checklists — Use systematic verification
4. Photography — Document issues for customer communication
5. Timeliness — Don't let orders sit in QC queue

For Integration with Shipping

1. Clear Handoff — Define when QC is complete and shipping begins
2. Packaging Verification — Confirm items are packaged correctly before labeling
3. Documentation — Include packing slips and any required paperwork
4. Final Check — Verify shipping address before dispatch

Troubleshooting

QC Issues

Items stuck in QC:

• Check if station completion is blocking progress
• Verify all line items have been checked
• Ensure status can be updated by current user

QC failures:

• Document the issue clearly
• Communicate with customer if needed
• Route back to production for correction

Next Steps

• Shop QC Interface
• Shipping & Logistics
• Booking & Labels
• Order Settings