Which of the following is a red flag of testing or inspection results that should raise concern about nonconforming goods?

• A. Test results appear legitimate and consistent with samples
• B. Delivery times match the schedule
• C. Evidence that test or inspection results were falsified
• D. Prices are within market range

Answer: (C)

In testing and inspection, you want objective, trustworthy data about whether goods meet requirements. The strongest red flag is evidence that test or inspection results were falsified. When data is manipulated, you can’t rely on the results to indicate conformity, which means the entire batch could be nonconforming and the quality control process has been compromised. This kind of manipulation points to deeper issues with supplier integrity and process controls, so it immediately calls for escalation, re-testing with an independent lab, and quarantine of affected lots.

If results look legitimate and align with the samples, that suggests the data is trustworthy. Delivery times matching the schedule describes timeliness, not quality. Prices within the market range reflect cost and market factors, not whether the goods meet specifications.