Nonconformity (quality)

Nonconformity (quality)

In quality management, a nonconformity (also known as a defect) is a deviation from a specification, a standard, or an expectation. Nonconformities are classified as either critical, major, or minor.

In software engineering, ISO/IEC 9126 distinguishes between a "defect" and a "nonconformity", a defect being the nonfulfilment of intended usage requirements, whereas a nonconformity is the nonfulfilment of a requirement. A similar distinction is made between validation and verification.