Method and apparatus for mobile quality management inspections

1. A mobile Quality Management Inspection System comprising:

a database in communication with at least one network server;

a plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server, each of the plurality of quality coordinators providing quality inspection reports from various sources in a quality control chain to the database in real time; and

an inspector mobile device in communication with the at least one network server, the mobile device having a display screen and input means for inputting data, the inspector mobile device being configured to:

automatically receive the quality inspection reports from the quality coordinators via the at least one network server in real time pertaining to a quality control inspection of an inspection lot;

automatically upload inspection data for the quality control inspection to the database in real time; and

enable an inspector using the inspector mobile device to perform one selected from a group consisting of social compliance and security audits, wherein social compliance audits relate to an inspection of an entity to verify whether the entity's operation complies with social and ethical responsibilities, health and safety regulations, and labor laws, and security audits include compliance with the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured to:

perform a usage decision process on the inspection lot, the usage decision process including determining whether a sample in an accepted inspection lot meets a gold seal acceptance standard.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quality coordinators is configured to:

select a quality notification from a list of quality notifications;

add tasks associated with the selected quality notification; and

assign users to each added task.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to:

record inspection results; and

perform a non-conformance process on unaccepted inspections lots, the unaccepted inspection lots having at least one defect.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to record inspection results by:

performing an on-site quality control product inspection of one or more lots of products at a factory manufacturing the same; and

recording such inspection results in real time.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured when performing the usage decision process to:

update a quality information record if the sample meets the gold seal acceptable standard;

determine whether a source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

block the inbound delivery of the lot and create a re-inspection of the lot when the source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

identify a failure of the inspection lot when the source inspection is not rejected with re-inspection; and

create a new source inspection lot when there has been an identified failure.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured when performing the non-conformance process, to:

receive notifications from the assigned users as to the completion of each assigned task;

record a usage decision based on the completion of tasks, said recording closing the inspection lot; and

determine whether to close quality notification relating to the inspection lot.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server is configured to create the inspection lot in response to a vendor's completion of an order.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured, when performing the creation of the inspection lot, to:

determine whether any defects are found in the inspection lot;

record any defects found in the inspection lot;

for each product where no defects are found, save the inspection lot;

calculate the number of recorded defects in the inspection lot;

compare the calculated number of recorded defects with a predetermined value;

send an electronic communication to a vendor responsible for the inspection lot providing the comparison results;

determine whether or not to accept the inspection lot;

create a quality notification and assign a coordinator when it is determined not to accept the inspection lot; and

complete an acceptance of a usage decision process when it is determined to accept the inspection lot.

10. A mobile Quality Management Inspection System comprising:

a database in communication with at least one network server;

a plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server, each of the plurality of quality coordinators providing quality inspection reports from various sources in a quality control chain to the database in real time; and

an inspector mobile device in communication with the at least one network server, the mobile device having a display screen and input means for inputting data, the inspector mobile device being configured to:

automatically receive the quality inspection reports from the quality coordinators via the at least one network server in real time pertaining to a quality control inspection of an inspection lot;

automatically upload inspection data for the quality control inspection to the database in real time; and

the at least one network server being configured to perform a usage decision process on the inspection lot, where an accepted inspection lot has no identified defects, the usage decision process including a determination whether a sample from an accepted inspection lot meets a gold seal acceptance standard;

the at least one network server is further configured when performing the usage decision process to:

update a quality information record if the sample meets the gold seal acceptable standard;

determine whether a source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

block the inbound delivery of the lot and create a re-inspection of the lot when the source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

identify a failure of the inspection lot when the source inspection is not rejected with re-inspection; and

create a new source inspection lot when there has been an identified failure.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to:

record inspection results; and

perform a non-conformance process on unaccepted inspections lots, the unaccepted inspection lots having at least one defect.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to record inspection results by:

performing an on-site quality control product inspection of one or more lots of products at a factory manufacturing the same; and

recording such inspection results in real time.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is further configured when performing the non-conformance process, to:

receive notifications from the assigned users as to the completion of each assigned task;

record a usage decision based on the completion of tasks, said recording closing the inspection lot; and

determine whether to close quality notification relating to the inspection lot.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server is configured to create the inspection lot in response to a vendor's completion of an order.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured, when performing the creation of the inspection lot, to:

determine whether any defects are found in the inspection lot;

record any defects found in the inspection lot;

for each product where no defects are found, save the inspection lot;

calculate the number of recorded defects in the inspection lot;

compare the calculated number of recorded defects with a predetermined value;

send an electronic communication to a vendor responsible for the inspection lot providing the comparison results;

determine whether or not to accept the inspection lot;

create a quality notification and assign a coordinator when it is determined not to accept the inspection lot; and

complete an acceptance of a usage decision process when it is determined to accept the inspection lot.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to enable an inspector using the inspector mobile device to perform one selected from a group consisting of social compliance and security audits, wherein social compliance audits relate to an inspection of an entity to verify whether the entity's operation complies with social and ethical responsibilities, health and safety regulations, and labor laws, and security audits include compliance with the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

17. A mobile Quality Management Inspection System comprising:

a database in communication with at least one network server;

a plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server, each of the plurality of quality coordinators providing quality inspection reports from various sources in a quality control chain to the database in real time; and

an inspector mobile device in communication with the at least one network server, the mobile device having a display screen and input means for inputting data, the inspector mobile device being configured to:

automatically receive the quality inspection reports from the quality coordinators via the at least one network server in real time pertaining to a quality control inspection of an inspection lot;

automatically upload inspection data for the quality control inspection to the database in real time; and

enable an inspector using the inspector mobile device to perform one selected from a group consisting of social compliance and security audits, wherein social compliance audits relate to an inspection of an entity to verify whether the entity's operation complies with social and ethical responsibilities, health and safety regulations, and labor laws, and security audits include compliance with the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT);

the at least one network server being configured to perform a usage decision process on the inspection lot, where an accepted inspection lot has no identified defects, the usage decision process including a determination whether a sample from an accepted inspection lot meets a gold seal acceptance standard.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to:

record inspection results; and

perform a non-conformance process on unaccepted inspections lots, the unaccepted inspection lots having at least one defect.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured to record inspection results by:

performing an on-site quality control product inspection of one or more lots of products at a factory manufacturing the same; and

recording such inspection results in real time.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured when performing the usage decision process to:

update a quality information record if the sample meets the gold seal acceptable standard;

determine whether a source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

block the inbound delivery of the lot and create a re-inspection of the lot when the source inspection is rejected with re-inspection;

identify a failure of the inspection lot when the source inspection is not rejected with re-inspection; and

create a new source inspection lot when there has been an identified failure.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the inspector mobile device is further configured when performing the non-conformance process, to:

receive notifications from the assigned users as to the completion of each assigned task;

record a usage decision based on the completion of tasks, said recording closing the inspection lot; and

determine whether to close quality notification relating to the inspection lot.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quality coordinators in communication with the at least one network server is configured to create an inspection lot in response to a vendor's completion of an order.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one network server is further configured, when performing the creation of the inspection lot, to:

determine whether any defects are found in the inspection lot;

record any defects found in the inspection lot;

for each product where no defects are found, save the inspection lot;

calculate the number of recorded defects in the inspection lot;

compare the calculated number of recorded defects with a predetermined value;

send an electronic communication to a vendor responsible for the inspection lot providing the comparison results;

determine whether or not to accept the inspection lot;

create a quality notification and assign a coordinator when it is determined not to accept the inspection lot; and

complete an acceptance of a usage decision process when it is determined to accept the inspection lot.