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Quality Event Management for Life Science Companies

Quality Event Management in SimplerQMS help Life Science companies turn every employee into a quality sensor, not just QA.

Anyone can flag what they see as an observation – QA decides what it becomes. From that first report, your team can move through investigation and CAPA without switching systems.

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Explore Quality Event Management in SimplerQMS

When quality information is spread across disconnected tools, teams spend valuable time searching for records, connecting information, and preparing evidence.

Explore how SimplerQMS connects observations, quality events, CAPAs, documents, and related quality processes in one integrated eQMS — helping teams maintain traceability throughout the quality event lifecycle.

What You Can Achieve with SimplerQMS

Built by life science experts to streamline quality events and resolutions while maintaining compliance.

“SimplerQMS makes things flow easier.”

Dorthe testemonial picture

Dorthe Wallin

QA/RA Manager at Cortex

Frictionless Reporting

Employees across the organization can report what they observe as potential quality issues without needing to determine the final classification. QA reviews submissions and decides the appropriate next step.

End-to-End Traceability

Escalate Observations to Quality Events, enable vigilance reporting, and track investigations with automated workflows and audit trails.

Efficiency

Reduce duplicate data entry. Manage quality events, investigations, CAPAs, and related quality records in one integrated eQMS.

Continuous Improvement

Identify trends, monitor process performance, and support data-informed continuous improvement.

How Different Roles Benefit from Quality Event Management in SimplerQMS

SimplerQMS helps life science teams capture, investigate, and follow up on quality events, with each record linked to the documents, actions, and evidence that support it.

Quality Assurance (QA)

Review and classify Observations to determine the appropriate next step.

Assess event severity and manage investigations through structured workflows.

Determine when Quality Events require further action, including CAPA.

Assign actions, link related quality records, and keep supporting evidence connected.

Monitor event status, approval cycle times, and overdue actions to strengthen quality oversight.

Quality Assurance Team

Regulatory Affairs (RA)

Collaborate with QA on quality event investigations and follow-up.

Maintain visibility into event records, investigation outcomes, and assigned actions.

Support assessment of events that may require regulatory or vigilance reporting.

Keep reporting decisions, supporting evidence, and ownership connected to the relevant event.

Use quality trends to inform regulatory and process improvement activities.

Regulatory Affairs Team

Research and Development (R&D)

Report potential quality issues as Observations without needing to determine their final classification.

Provide supporting evidence and technical context for investigations.

Track the status of Observations and Quality Events.

Complete assigned investigation and follow-up actions.

Propose change requests when quality events identify impacted documents or processes.

Research and Development Team

Manufacturing and Operations

Report potential quality events from the shop floor or operational processes as Observations.

Provide relevant evidence and information to support QA’s assessment and investigation.

Complete assigned investigation, CAPA, and follow-up actions.

Track open actions and responsibilities to support timely follow-up.

Maintain visibility into recurring issues and opportunities for process improvement.

Manufacturing and Operations Team

Management and Executives

Gain visibility into quality activities and event volumes across the organization.

Monitor quality trends, open actions, and process performance.

See ownership and closure progress across teams.

Identify recurring issues and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Support quality oversight with consistent records and reporting.

Management and Executive Team

How Life Science Teams Manage Quality Events in Practice

Life science organizations rely on SimplerQMS to manage quality events efficiently while supporting compliance, traceability, and audit readiness.

Manage Different Types of Quality Events

Life science teams use SimplerQMS to capture observations and manage different types of quality events through structured workflows and connected records.

Common event types include:

Audit Findings
Quality events identified through internal, supplier, customer, or regulatory audits. Learn more about audit management.

Complaints
Quality events related to product or customer complaints. Learn more about complaint management.

Deviations
Departures from approved procedures, processes, specifications, or expected conditions. Learn more about deviation management.

Nonconformances
Instances where materials, products, processes, or results do not meet specified requirements. Learn more about nonconformance management.

Supplier Quality Events
Quality events related to suppliers, supplied materials, or outsourced services. Learn more about supplier management.

Escalate Quality Events to CAPA When Needed

When a quality event requires structured corrective or preventive action, SimplerQMS enables you to escalate an event to a CAPA management process while maintaining traceability to the source event.

Manage GMP Quality Events

With SimplerQMS:

Initiate and investigate deviations using guided workflows.

Implement corrections and create actions with clear owners and due dates.

Record supplier events and connect them to investigations and follow-up actions in one system.

Capture product complaints and trigger follow-up actions.

Support more consistent GMP event management by connecting deviations, complaints, supplier events, related actions, and supporting evidence in one validated eQMS.

Strengthen Complaint Handling

With SimplerQMS:

Connect complaints to investigations and follow-up actions to maintain traceability across records.

Document investigation decisions and outcomes with controlled approvals.

Track actions to closure and keep supporting evidence attached to the event record.

Assess complaint-related quality events and link them to related risks, changes, and post-market activities where applicable.

More consistent post-market follow-up, with clearer traceability across the complaint investigation and resolution lifecycle.

Control Sample and Process Non-Conformances

With SimplerQMS:

Document sample handling or process exceptions and route them for review.

Assign follow-up actions and keep evidence and decision rationale in one place.

Support consistent execution by linking events to relevant procedures and training where applicable.

Identify recurring laboratory issues by tracking event history and quality trends.

Fewer fragmented records and more consistent, controlled follow-up to support inspection and accreditation needs.

Coordinate Cross-Functional Investigations

With SimplerQMS:

Standardize how events are raised across manufacturing, packaging, and testing.

Assign investigation tasks and maintain a complete event record with evidence attachments.

Track supplier and internal follow-up actions across teams and sites.

Maintain traceability between client-related quality events, investigations, and follow-up actions.

More reliable handoffs and faster access to event evidence in a validated system—useful for internal oversight and customer requests.

How SimplerQMS Supports These Use Cases

Explore the capabilities that help life science teams manage quality event processes.

Observation Process

Any employee can report what they see as an observation, while QA classifies it and oversees the resolution.

Observation Process

Severity-Based Processes

Classify events based on potential or actual impact on safety, quality, compliance, or performance of a product.

Severity-Based Process

Automated Workflows

Manage Observations, Quality Events, and CAPAs through structured workflows with assigned roles, actions, and follow-up activities.

Automated Workflows

Vigilance Reporting

Enable post-market safety information if needed, supporting RA and Post-Market Surveillance assessment of whether regulatory reporting is required.

Vigilance Reporting

Electronic Signatures

Capture traceable approvals with electronic signatures designed to align with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Electronic Signatures

Effectiveness Check

Record and track the effectiveness of implemented actions to support continuous improvement.

Effectiveness Check

Analytics and Trend Reporting

Analyze trends and support data-informed decisions with connected quality event reporting.

Analytics and Trend Reporting

Version Control and History

Help teams work from the latest approved records with clear versioning and history.

Version Control and History

Role-Based Access Control

Control who can view, edit, review, or approve records based on role, and assign investigation or follow-up actions.

Role-Based Access Control

Microsoft Office Integration

Draft and edit documents in Microsoft Word while keeping records connected in SimplerQMS.

Microsoft Office Integration

Search, Filtering, and Easy Navigation

Find observations and quality events faster using search, filters, and SimplerQMS properties.

Search, Filtering, and Easy Navigation

Quality Event Management Is Built into an Integrated eQMS

Quality Event Management is part of SimplerQMS’s integrated eQMS for life science companies—connecting events to investigations, documents, training, change control, and CAPA when needed.

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More Than Quality Event Management

Beyond Quality Event Management, SimplerQMS supports a wide range of interconnected quality processes within a fully integrated eQMS.

View all modules
Note Icon

Observations

Observations in SimplerQMS make it easy for employees to flag potential quality events while QA retains control over assessment and escalation.

Note Icon

Complaint Management

SimplerQMS Complaint Management helps Life Science companies manage complaints, investigations, CAPAs, and regulatory assessments in one controlled system.

Note Icon

Document Control

Document Control Software by SimplerQMS allows you to automate and standardize your document control activities with ease. Request a demo today!

Change Control icon

Change Management

Streamline change control processes from request submission through review, approval, and implementation.

Change Control icon

Training Management

Streamline change control processes from request submission through review, approval, and implementation.

Deviation Management Icon

Deviation Management

Record, investigate, and document deviations to support timely resolution and compliance.

Capa management icon

CAPA Management

Identify and address quality issues, implement corrective and preventive actions, and reduce recurrence risk.

Audit Management Icon

Audit Management

Plan, conduct, and document audits to support inspection readiness and timely follow-up.

Risk Management Icon

Risk Management

Identify, assess, and document risks to support mitigation and protect quality and compliance.

Equipment Management Icon

Equipment Management

Track and maintain equipment to support accuracy, availability, and compliance.

Supporting Compliance with Life Science Requirements

SimplerQMS enables organizations to implement Quality Event Management processes aligned with key life science requirements by helping them maintain traceability, streamlined resolution, and consistent processes.

ISO 13485:2016

SimplerQMS A/S is certified to ISO 13485:2016, and the SimplerQMS software is designed to support and align with the requirements of the ISO 13485 quality management system.

ISO/IEC 27001:2022

SimplerQMS A/S is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and implements information security controls aligned with the standard across its organization and QMS software platform.

FDA 21 CFR Part 11

SimplerQMS complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11.

FDA 21 CFR Part 820

SimplerQMS supports compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 820.

FDA 21 CFR Part 211

SimplerQMS supports GMP requirements under FDA 21 CFR Part 211.

FDA 21 CFR Part 212

SimplerQMS supports compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 212.

FDA 21 CFR Part 4

SimplerQMS support compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 4.

FDA Data Integrity

SimplerQMS supports FDA Data Integrity Guidance (FDA-2018-D-3984) principles.

CLIA

SimplerQMS supports adherence to CLIA.

EudraLex Volume 4 GMP

SimplerQMS supports compliance with EudraLex Volume 4 GMP (Part 1 – Medicinal Products).

EudraLex GMP Annex 11

SimplerQMS supports compliance with EudraLex GMP Annex 11: Computerized Systems, Annex 16 QP certification for batch release, and Annex 19 reference/retention samples.

EU MDR

SimplerQMS supports compliance with EU MDR.

EU IVDR

SimplerQMS supports compliance with EU IVDR.

UK MDR

SimplerQMS empowers life science organizations to meet UK MDR requirements.

ISO 14971:2019

SimplerQMS facilitates adherence to ISO 14971:2019.

IEC 60601

SimplerQMS supports compliance with IEC 60601.

IEC 62304

SimplerQMS supports alignment with IEC 62304.

ISO 1518:2022

SimplerQMS provides functionality aligned with ISO 1518:2022.

ISO 16085:2021

SimplerQMS supports compliance with ISO 16085:2021.

ICH Q10

SimplerQMS aligns with pharmaceutical quality systems requirements per ICH Q10.

ICH Q9

SimplerQMS supports risk management per ICH Q9.

ICH Q8

SimplerQMS supports compliance per ICH Q8.

PIC/S GMP

SimplerQMS supports compliance with PIC/S GMP (Part 1 – Medicinal Products).

ISPE GAMP 5

SimplerQMS meets ISPE GAMP 5 guidelines, including Annex D1, Section 3 and Annex M3.

ISO 9001:2015

SimplerQMS supports compliance with ISO 9001:2015.

ISO 90003:2018

SimplerQMS applies ISO 90003:2018 best practices.

ISO/IEC 27002:2022

SimplerQMS follows ISO/IEC 27002:2022 guidance.

GDPR

SimplerQMS supports alignment with GDPR (EU).

HIPAA

SimplerQMS supports alignment with HIPAA (US).

Hear From Our Happy Customers

Explore real-world case studies and customer reviews that show how life science teams use SimplerQMS.

Explore Quality Event Management Resources

Explore practical insights and guidance on Quality Event Management in regulated life science environments.

Medical Device Complaint Handling Process

Desiree Tarranco

Medical Device Complaint Handling Process

Complaint ManagementMedical Devices

Pharmaceutical Complaint Management

Blagica Ingilizovska

Pharmaceutical Complaint Management Process

Complaint ManagementPharmaceutical

Complaint Management

Desiree Tarranco

Complaint Management: Definition, Requirements, Process, and Software

Complaint Management

Nonconformance

Farha Sayeed

Nonconformance: Definition, Types, Causes, and Process

Nonconformance

Nonconformance Report Illustration

Farha Sayeed

Nonconformance Report (NCR): Definition, Example, and Process

Nonconformance

Frequently Asked Questions About Quality Event Management

Find answers to common questions about Quality Event Management and its role in life science quality management.

What Is Quality Event Management?

A quality event is when something does not go as expected and requires documentation, assessment, investigation, or follow-up through a defined quality process. Quality events can originate from an observation or be identified directly as a planned or unplanned deviation, complaint, non-conformance, audit finding, supplier issue, or another event type.

Quality Event Management is the controlled process used to assess, classify, investigate, resolve, and close these events. In SimplerQMS, employees can report what they observe as an observation, while QA determines the appropriate next step.

Why Does Quality Event Management Matter in Life Sciences?

It supports a quality culture that proactively identifies and addresses issues that can impact product quality and safety, while helping organizations drive continuous improvement. It also helps teams manage quality events in a controlled, traceable way, making it easier to understand what happened, what actions were taken, and what evidence supports the outcome.

How Does SimplerQMS Support Quality Event Management?

It starts with an observation. Any employee can flag what they see, and QA decides what it becomes. From there, SimplerQMS guides the assessment and investigation, links actions and related documents, and keeps every record in one validated system. Nothing is tracked down separately.

Do I Need to Be in QA to Report a Quality Event?

No. Any employee, from manufacturing, R&D, or any other team, can report what they see as an observation. You don’t need to know whether it is a deviation, non-conformance, or complaint. QA reviews every submitted observation and decides on the next step.

Does Every Report Become a CAPA?

No. When you submit an observation, QA reviews it and decides the right next step. That might be closing it with a simple note, escalating it to a quality event, or, if needed, opening a CAPA. Not every event requires the same level of process.

How Does SimplerQMS Support Traceability?

You can link related records, assign actions with clear owners and due dates, and keep evidence attached to the event. The full history is there when you need it, not scattered across separate tools.

How Do Quality Events Connect to Other Processes in SimplerQMS?

Quality events can reference the observation they started from, the deviation, non-conformance, complaint, audit finding, or supplier issue being managed, and any related CAPA, document, change, or training record. When you open one record, the related history is already there, not somewhere else to search for.

See SimplerQMS in Action

See how SimplerQMS supports Quality Event Management and other interconnected quality processes in a single, integrated eQMS.