Some characteristics are easier to evaluate before they become hidden inside an assembly. A quality plan should identify when the relevant evidence can be obtained.
ASQ describes a quality plan as specifying processes, resources, responsibilities and related activities needed to meet requirements. ASQ — quality plans.
Locate the observation point
For each relevant requirement, ask at what stage the item or information is available. Do not assume that a final visual review can recover every earlier condition. Identify who records the evidence and how it remains linked to the work.
Define the decision
State what happens when evidence is missing or a requirement is not met. A stage name alone does not explain whether work may proceed. Use the applicable process and authorised responsibilities to resolve exceptions.
A useful plan is proportionate to the work and usable by the people performing it. Its purpose is to connect requirements to actual controls, not to create a long document that nobody consults.
Source reviewed 25 October 2026. Practical interpretation and original illustrations by PLUSHIP / Qunhe; examples are illustrative.
Related reading
The Check Stage of PDCA Needs Evidence of the Outcome
Supplier Quality Evidence Needs a Defined Scope
Material Evidence and Finished-Product Evidence Are Different