Deviation Management

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 1 minute to read

    • A deviation is any type of equipment or work anomaly that has an impact on work safety, performance, or quality. It doesn't necessarily cause a complete outage, but it requires mitigation or resolution. Deviation management is the process of creating, evaluating, resolving, and closing deviations.

    Deviation Management overview

    Identifying and resolving deviations is a key principle in performance improvement.

    Industrial Deviation Management helps you with the following:
    • Promote timely corrective actions
    • Maintain product quality
    • Promote compliance with regulations
    • Reduce the risk of recurring issues that lead to production delays and increased costs
    Deviations can be created directly from the Workspace or as part of another task's execution.
    • To create a deviation directly from the Workspace, select the Plus button (Plus icon.) that is available on any window or page.
    • To create a deviation from an action, open the action task. Then, select the three-dot menu at the top corner and select Create deviation.

    You can start the sidebar discussion with an expert user to close the resolved deviation. To learn more about this functionality, see Initiate a Sidebar chat in the Digital Factory Workspace.

    Example use case

    The following is an example of managing a quality deviation during production.

    During a routine quality check on a beverage filling line, an operator notices that several bottles are under filled. This could indicate a calibration issue with the filling equipment. To document and resolve the issue, the operator uses Deviation Management in the Digital Factory Workspace:

    1. Create a deviation to log the anomaly, linking it to the specific equipment and functional location.
    2. Categorize the deviation under Quality and assign an appropriate urgency and impact level using the built-in priority matrix.
    3. Assign the deviation to a maintenance technician for investigation.
    4. Track the deviation through its life cycle: from Found to Open, and eventually to Fixed and Closed.
    5. Trigger a guided task for recalibrating the equipment, or initiate a root cause analysis if the issue recurs.
    6. Document the resolution and attach any supporting evidence, such as photos or calibration reports.

    This use of Deviation Management helps maintain product quality, supports traceability for audits, and enables timely corrective actions to minimize production impact.