The buyer updates the Quality Notification (QN) status to "Complete" when they have determined that the underlying quality issue has been satisfactorily resolved. In a typical collaborative supply chain scenario, after a defect is reported via a QN, the supplier implements corrective actions. The success of these actions is often verified by inspecting a subsequent shipment from the supplier. The formal acceptance of the inspection lot for this new shipment serves as objective evidence that the product now meets quality standards. This event is the logical business trigger for the buyer to consider the issue resolved and formally update the QN status to "Complete."

B. When the Quality Notification is updated with a root cause: Identifying a root cause is an important but intermediate step. The notification remains active while corrective actions are implemented and verified.

C. When the Quality Notification is closed: The "Complete" status is a prerequisite for the "Closed" status. A notification is first marked as complete to signify all work is done, and only then can it be closed for archival.

D. When the Advance Ship Notice is delivered: An Advance Ship Notice (ASN) is part of the shipping process that occurs before goods are received and inspected. A quality notification is typically created after inspection reveals a defect.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA

Quality Management (QM)

"Processing a Quality Notification": The documentation states

"You complete a notification when the problem has been rectified and you have recorded all the required notification data." The acceptance of a follow-up inspection lot is a primary method for verifying that a problem has been rectified.

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA

Quality Management (QM)

"Usage Decision for an Inspection Lot": This document outlines that making a usage decision (e.g.

acceptance) formally completes the quality inspection for a specific batch of material. This decision is a key input for resolving related quality notifications.

3. SAP Help Portal

SAP Business Network Supply Chain Collaboration

"Quality Collaboration": The process flow for quality collaboration shows that after the supplier submits their analysis and corrective actions

the final step belongs to the buyer to review the resolution and complete the notification in their backend system (e.g.

SAP S/4HANA)

which updates the status on the network. The acceptance of a new

defect-free lot is the verification that enables this final step.