Material Review Board (MRB) Dispositions

When a product is found nonconforming, a Material Review Board (MRB) evaluates it and assigns a disposition — a decision about what to do with the material.

The five standard dispositions

Disposition	Meaning	When used
Use-as-is (UAI)	Accept without change	Nonconformance does not affect form, fit, or function
Rework	Bring into conformance by a defined operation	Defect is correctable and the result will be fully conforming
Repair	Restore functionality but result may still deviate from drawing	Full conformance is not achievable — requires engineering approval
Scrap	Destroy or render unusable	No path to conformance; cost of rework exceeds value
Return to vendor (RTV)	Send back to supplier	Nonconformance originated at supplier; costs charged back

MRB authority and documentation

UAI and Repair dispositions for safety-critical parts typically require engineering and customer approval. All MRB decisions must be documented with the nonconformance description, root cause (if known), disposition rationale, and authorized signatures.

CQE exam tips

Rework produces a fully conforming part; repair does not — this distinction is frequently tested.
Use-as-is for a safety-critical part without engineering approval is a major nonconformance under ISO 9001 Clause 8.7.
Scrap material must be positively identified (red tag, mutilation) to prevent accidental use.

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