8D Reports — Product Work Instruction (WI)
Version 1.0 · For all users · Last updated May 2026
1. Product Overview
8D Reports is a cloud-based 8D (Eight Disciplines) problem-solving report management platform, designed for manufacturing quality engineers, supplier quality managers, and system auditors. It replaces traditional Excel templates with structured D0–D8 workflows, real-time team collaboration, one-click PDF/Word export, and complete audit traceability.
1.1 Applicable Scenarios
- Customer complaint 8D reports (Customer 8D)
- Internal quality anomaly 8D reports (Internal 8D)
- Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCAR)
- IATF 16949 / ISO 9001 / AS9100 audit preparation
1.2 System Requirements
Supports all modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox). Chrome latest version is recommended for best experience. Mobile browser supports basic operations; camera upload requires a device with camera.
2. Quick Start
2.1 Account Registration
- Go to registration page
- Enter name, email, and password (password requires 8+ characters with uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character)
- Click Create account to complete registration
- System generates a verification code (displayed in server logs in current version); enter it to complete email verification
- After verification, automatically redirect to Dashboard
2.2 Creating Your First Report
- After login, go to Dashboard and click New Report button
- Choose report type: Customer 8D or Internal 8D
- Choose priority: Low / Medium / High
- Click Start Report; system auto-generates report number (format: YYYY-MM-DD-sequence)
2.3 Report Type Description
| Type | Use Scenario | Typical Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Customer 8D | Formal customer complaint, requires submitting 8D report to customer | D0 Prepare → D1 Team → D2 Describe → D3 Contain → D4 Root Cause → D5 Correct → D6 Implement → D7 Prevent → D8 Close |
| Internal 8D | Internally discovered quality anomaly, internal improvement | Same flow as Customer 8D |
3. Report Editing
3.1 D0–D8 Step Navigation
Report editor shows D0 to D8 navigation on the left (desktop) or top (mobile). Click any step to switch editing area. Completed steps show a checkmark. Bottom provides Previous and Next buttons for step-by-step guidance.
3.2 Step-by-Step Description
| Step | Name | Key Fields |
|---|---|---|
| D0 | D0: Prepare | Report number (auto-gen, editable), Report type, Problem source, Customer name |
| D1 | D1: Team | Team leader name, Team members |
| D2 | D2: Describe | Problem description, Date found, Location found, Photo attachments |
| D3 | D3: Contain | Containment measures, Responsible person, Due date, Attachments |
| D4 | D4: Root Cause | 5-Why analysis, Fishbone description |
| D5 | D5: Correct | Corrective actions, Responsible person, Due date, Attachments |
| D6 | D6: Implement | Implementation plan, Verification method, Attachments |
| D7 | D7: Prevent | Prevention measures, Standard document updates, Attachments |
| D8 | D8: Close | Team acknowledgment, Management sign-off, Close date |
3.3 Attachment Upload
In D2, D3, D5, D6, D7 steps, upload attachments in three ways:
- Take Photo: Click to use device camera directly
- Photo Library: Select images from device gallery
- Upload File: Upload PDF, Excel, Word, CSV documents
Limit: Single file max 5MB, max 10 attachments per report. Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, PDF, XLSX, DOCX, CSV, TXT, ZIP.
Attachment Preview
Uploaded images show thumbnails; click to enlarge preview. Non-image files open in new tab.
3.4 Saving
Click Save button or use shortcut to save current step. System retains all entered data. Report status shown in top badge: Draft / In Progress / Completed.
4. Export & Share
4.1 Exporting Report
On report editor top bar, click Export button and choose format:
- PDF: Generate A4 professional layout PDF with cover, step content, attachment images, and page numbers
- Word: Generate .docx format document for further editing
- With Attachments: Export with attachments auto-packaged as ZIP file with report document and attachments folder
Free plan exports have SAMPLE watermark; Pro plan exports have no watermark.
4.2 Sharing Report
- Click Share button on report editor
- Choose permission: View only or Can edit
- Click to generate share link; copy and send to collaborators
- In Can edit mode, collaborators can edit report content online
- Can delete share link anytime to revoke access
5. AI Quality Advisor (Quality Agent)
The AI Quality Advisor floating button at bottom right opens a quality expert chat window at any time. You can:
- Ask questions about 8D methodology
- Get IATF 16949 / ISO 9001 standard explanations
- Request root cause analysis suggestions
- Learn quality tools (FMEA, SPC, MSA) usage
- Get report writing suggestions and template references
6. Account & Quota
6.1 Plan Comparison
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Report Count | 5 lifetime | Unlimited |
| D0–D8 Complete Workflow | ✓ | ✓ |
| PDF Export | ✓ (with watermark) | ✓ (no watermark) |
| Word Export | ✓ (with watermark) | ✓ (no watermark) |
| Attachment Upload | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Quality Advisor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audit Traceability | — | ✓ |
| Priority Support | — | ✓ |
6.2 Upgrading to Pro
Go to pricing page to choose monthly ($9.99/mo) or annual ($79/year — save 34%).
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Can I edit the report number?
- A: Yes. Report number is auto-generated in D0 (format YYYY-MM-DD-sequence) but can be edited anytime.
- Q: How do I switch the interface language?
- A: Click the language switch button in the page top (shows '中文' or 'EN'); page will refresh and switch language.
- Q: Do uploaded images appear in exported files?
- A: Yes. When exporting PDF and Word, images uploaded to each step appear at the corresponding position. All attachment files are packaged in the ZIP file's attachments folder.
- Q: Can I set a password for share links?
- A: Current version shares via unique token links. Links can be deleted anytime to revoke access. Password protection coming soon.
- Q: How is my data secured?
- A: Data uses encrypted transmission (HTTPS) and encrypted storage. Database uses Neon Serverless Postgres, files stored on Cloudflare R2. You can export all your data anytime.