Quality management
Quality management in PLM: SCAR – when correction must lead to improvement
By Fredrik Øyen, PLM Engineer · 12 February 2026
When a supplier error causes a non-conformance in production or a product, simply correcting the error is rarely enough. Many businesses need a structured process for supplier corrective actions (Supplier Corrective Action Request – SCAR). SCAR is not about blame; it is about predictability, traceability and improvement across the value chain.
In a modern, cloud-based PLM solution such as Fusion Manage, SCAR becomes a fully integrated part of connected quality management – not a PDF sent out after the event, but an active improvement process with full traceability from non-conformance to closure.
What is SCAR – and what is it called in Norwegian?
In Norwegian quality management practice, commonly used terms translate as:
• Supplier correction
• Supplier corrective actions
• Supplier correction request
SCAR is simply a formal request for a supplier to identify the cause and propose corrective actions, with deadlines, assigned responsibilities and follow-up.
Why SCAR belongs in PLM – not in email and Excel
A SCAR process involves many steps and participants:
- Non-conformance reporting
- Root cause analysis (often at the supplier)
- Documentation of actions
- Evaluation and approval
- Closure
- Learning and knowledge reuse
Without PLM, this can quickly become static documentation. In Fusion Manage, SCAR can be linked directly to:
- the original non-conformance
- related products and drawings
- suppliers and their history
- ongoing changes (ECR/ECO)
- existing risk analyses (e.g. FMEA)
This places SCAR directly in the context of the product – rather than treating it as follow-up paperwork.
Benefits of cloud-based SCAR
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Real-time visibility. Status is always up to date – no chasing emails.
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Traceability. Who did what, when – and why?
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Supplier collaboration. Suppliers can be involved directly through the portal.
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Automation. Notifications, responsibilities, deadlines and approvals follow clear workflows.
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Knowledge reuse. The SCAR database becomes a source of proactive improvements.
SCAR as part of a broader quality process
When SCAR is closely linked to non-conformances (NCR) and then to CAPA (I will write more about that later), the business gains an end-to-end chain:
Non-conformance → SCAR (at the supplier) → CAPA (internally) → Updated risk assessments → Stronger product and process