An item that fails to meet specification on its first pass through quality control but is not scrapped immediately. These parts are typically set aside for a material review board to determine if they can be reworked, downgraded to a factory second, or adjusted to meet tolerances. Tracking first-pass yield against initial rejects helps engineers identify upstream process variations.
We had twelve initial rejects on the morning run, mostly for surface blemishes, but ten of them passed after a quick buff.
Related terms
Defect
Any deviation from product specifications that impairs cosmetic appearance or functional performance.
Factory second
A product with minor cosmetic or manufacturing flaws that is sold at a discount.
Rework
The correction of defective, failed, or non-conforming items during the manufacturing process.
MRB
A cross-functional team that evaluates nonconforming materials to decide their fate.