MRB (Material Review Board)
Material Review Board (MRB) transforms how manufacturers manage non-conforming materials by enabling faster, more informed, and data-driven decisions. By leveraging IoT, analytics, and integrated systems, organizations can reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen compliance. This use case delivers measurable improvements in cost control, production flow, and quality performance while supporting continuous improvement and operational excellence.
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- Root causes23
- Key metrics5
- Financial metrics6
- Enablers23
- Data sources5
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What Is It?
Material Review Board (MRB) leverages IoT, advanced analytics, real-time data integration, and digital workflows to manage the disposition of non-conforming materials. Traditionally, MRB processes are manual, slow, and fragmented, often relying on paper-based documentation and disconnected systems, which delays decisions and increases operational risk.
Smart manufacturing transforms MRB into a streamlined, data-driven process by integrating MES, QMS, ERP, and shop floor systems. This enables real-time visibility into non-conformances, faster disposition decisions (use-as-is, rework, scrap, return), and improved traceability—reducing delays, minimizing waste, and ensuring compliance.
Why Is It Important?
Material Review Board (MRB) is critical for managing non-conforming materials and minimizing their impact on operations. Key benefits include:
- →Faster Disposition Decisions: Reduces delays in resolving non-conforming material issues.
- →Reduced Scrap and Rework Costs: Improves decision quality to minimize unnecessary waste.
- →Improved Production Flow: Prevents bottlenecks caused by quarantined or unresolved materials.
- →Enhanced Compliance and Traceability: Ensures all decisions are documented and auditable.
- →Better Root Cause Visibility: Enables identification of systemic issues driving non-conformance.
Who Is Involved?
Suppliers
- •IoT-enabled machines and inspection systems identifying non-conforming materials in real time
- •MES, QMS, and ERP systems providing production, quality, and inventory data
- •Quality engineers and inspectors reporting defects and initiating MRB cases
- •Suppliers providing material data, certifications, and responses to non-conformances
Process
- •Non-conforming material is identified through inspections, testing, or process monitoring
- •MRB cases are created and routed through digital workflows for evaluation
- •Cross-functional teams review data, determine root cause, and assign disposition actions
- •Decisions are executed (rework, scrap, return, or use-as-is) and tracked for traceability
Customers
- •Quality teams – MRB case status, disposition decisions, and defect trends
- •Production managers – impact on production flow and material availability
- •Operators – instructions for rework or handling of non-conforming material
- •Maintenance teams – insights into equipment-related causes of defects
- •Supply chain teams – supplier-related non-conformance and disposition outcomes
- •Compliance teams – documentation for audits and regulatory reporting
Other Stakeholders
- •Executive leadership – improved operational efficiency and reduced waste
- •Finance teams – visibility into scrap, rework, and cost impacts
- •Customer service teams – fewer defects reaching customers
- •Sustainability teams – reduced material waste and improved resource utilization
- •Engineering teams – feedback for design and process improvements
Stakeholder Groups
Which Business Functions Care?
Competitive Advantages
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Key Benefits
- Faster Disposition Decisions — Reduces delays in resolving non-conforming material issues.
- Reduced Scrap and Rework Costs — Improves decision quality to minimize unnecessary waste.
- Improved Production Flow — Prevents bottlenecks caused by quarantined or unresolved materials.
- Enhanced Compliance and Traceability — Ensures all decisions are documented and auditable.
- Better Root Cause Visibility — Enables identification of systemic issues driving non-conformance.