What are costs associated with rework, scrap, and troubleshooting referred to as?

The costs associated with rework, scrap, and troubleshooting are classified as internal failure costs because they occur when defects are identified before a product or service is delivered to the customer. Internal failure costs reflect the expenses incurred to rectify issues that arise during the production process, such as the costs associated with correcting defects, wasted materials from scrap, and time spent on troubleshooting problems that should not have occurred if the process had been executed correctly.

Understanding internal failure costs is crucial for organizations aiming to improve their quality processes. These costs highlight inefficiencies in production and signal areas that require process improvement, thus eventually leading to enhanced quality and reduced overall costs. By identifying and minimizing these costs, companies can strengthen their operational effectiveness and increase customer satisfaction by delivering higher quality products and services. The emphasis is on addressing failures internally to prevent them from affecting the final output delivered to customers.