Vendor Quality at TATA Motors- An ethical dilemma-TAPMI

My first exposure to corporate world was in Tata Motors company. I was recruited as a quality assurance engineer in the New Product Development department of the company and my major responsibility was to ensure the quality of the parts delivered by the vendors of Tata Motors. One of my job responsibilities included visiting the vendor’s manufacturing facility in order to verify the manufacturing quality of any part sent to Tata Motors. This verification process was carried out by member of 2 departments of Tata motors, one being the quality department and other the vendor quality department. Upon my visit to one the vendors of Tata Motors, I identified few processes which required iteration as it would lead to defective product delivery and hence declined to sign the approval certificate until the corrections are made. The approval certificate once signed gives the vendor a right to mass produce the parts and supply to the company. However, my colleague from vendor quality advised me to sign the document and assured me that he will ensure the corrections are made in due course of time. Being my senior I was in a pressure situation as my senior member was adamant on signing the document so that the work can be completed and no more visits will be required to the vendor. But, I found it unethical to give a go ahead to the vendor with issues in the manufacturing line as it would eventually lead to a more critical issue in the future and the vendor will not act promptly to improve its process line once final approval is given, hence I did not sign the document and convinced the senior member to postponed the process citing critical issues. Eventually, the vendor responded with the recommended changes within a week and the approval document was then signed by us.