Product Quality Deficiency Reports (PQDR)

PRODUCT QUALITY DEFICIENCY REPORTS (PQDR)

PQDRs are the primary tool used for receiving feedback from material users on the state of systems and material issued through the supply system. The primary purposes of PQDRs are to report material non-conformances, provide a vehicle to recover material cost as a result of the non-conformance, and to take steps to prevent recurrence. Non-conformance deficiencies are any defect, condition, or premature equipment failure indicating deficiencies in design, specification, documentation, material, manufacturing, and workmanship.

PQDRs are classified as CATEGORY I or CATEGORY II. CATEGORY I include critical defects which may cause death, injury, severe illness, loss or major damage to a weapon system, and ultimately restrict combat readiness capabilities. CATEGORY II includes any major or minor defect which does not meet the criteria set forth in Category I.

In the event of a PQDR, the contractor will be expected to assist in the investigation to determine the root cause of any valid deficiencies; root cause is defined as what processes failed to allow the deficiency. Next contractors will be expected to develop and execute and valid corrective actions to resolve any valid deficiencies; corrective actions are defined as what the contractor and QAR are doing to correct the deficiency for this shipment. Then contractors will develop preventative actions to preclude recurrence of deficiencies; preventative actions are defined as what the contractor and QAR are doing to ensure the deficiency doesn't happen again. Finally, the contractor is expected to keep the DCMA NSEO QAR informed of the status of the investigation and any rework, repair, or replacement of nonconforming material.