May 2026: What's New in 1factory!
We hear a lot from our customers about what would make their jobs easier. Whether it comes through support conversations, webinar questions, or direct feedback, we take those requests seriously and work to build them into the product.
This release is our answer to several of those conversations, covering six updates across the QMS and Gage Management modules. If things look a little cleaner or easier to navigate along the way, that is intentional too. We will continue refining the interface in future releases. Join us on May 11th for a 30-minute webinar where we will walk through each one and take your questions.
📅 Date: Monday, May 11th, 2026
⏰ Time (US): 2:00 PM EST | 1:00 PM CST | 11:00 AM PST
⏱ Duration: 30 minutes
🔗 Register: Webinar
Note: These features are currently available on the 1factory General Purpose Server Only. They will be included in the next scheduled release to the Validated and FedRAMP servers.
The new CAPA and Complaint Workflow feature automates the routing and assignment logic that quality teams would otherwise perform manually each time a new record is created. Define workflows by CAPA Type or Complaint Type, and the system automatically assigns owners, roles, and due dates the moment a record is created.
Why it matters: Manually assigning owners, calculating due dates, and routing corrective actions introduces inconsistency and accountability gaps. In regulated environments, unassigned sections and missed deadlines are audit findings. Workflows ensure the right people are assigned the right work from the start, with a complete audit trail of every assignment.
How it works: Define your CAPA and Complaint Types in the List of Values, then configure a matching workflow for each type under Master Data > Workflows. For each type you can set an overall Owners Role and lead time, assign Stage Owners by role and lead time for each section, and define Stage Actions (tasks) that are auto-generated with assigned roles and deadlines.
Product Guide: For further details, follow the link: [NCR-CAPA-Complaint-Workflow]
2 QMS Document Effectivity
Document Effectivity introduces a formal Pending Release status between Approved and Released, ensuring personnel complete training before a document becomes active in production. The full release sequence is documented and timestamped, giving auditors a complete chain of evidence.
Why it matters: For organizations operating in highly regulated environments, releasing a revised procedure and training personnel on it must happen in the correct order. Without a system-enforced separation between approved and effective, organizations are left managing that gap with spreadsheets and manual coordination, creating audit risk.
How it works: Enable Document Effectivity in QMS Settings by setting Documents are Immediately Effective to No. When a document is approved, move it to Pending Release and set an Effective Date. Training is automatically assigned to all required roles. The document releases automatically once the Effective Date arrives and any configured training completion threshold has been met. If you prefer to gate the release on date alone, simply set the threshold to 0 and the document will release automatically on the Effective Date regardless of training status. A Mandatory Approver can override at any time with an e-signature and required release note.
Note: Document Effectivity is disabled by default. To enable it, navigate to QMS Settings and set Documents are Immediately Effective to No.
Product Guide: For further details, follow the link: [Document Effectivity]
3 Tasks & Approvals Tile
The new Tasks & Approvals tile on the QMS tab, or NCR/CAPA Tab (Non-QMS Customers), provides a live view of all open and completed approval activity across documents, plans, and records. Quality managers no longer need to chase status updates individually or build manual reports in spreadsheets.
Why it matters: When task and approval responsibility is distributed across multiple records, modules, and roles, bottlenecks are hard to spot without a centralized view. The Tasks & Approvals tile gives managers immediate visibility into where things stand, who is pending, and what is past due, without leaving the system.
How it works: Navigate to the QMS tab and click the Tasks & Approvals tile.
- The Tasks tab is a single location to find all tasks tied to NCRs, Complaints, CAPAs, SCARs, and PPAPs, with direct links to the originating records.
- The Approvals tab shows all pending and completed approval requirements for QMS Documents, Records, Manufacturing and Receiving Plans, and PPAP Core Documents, filterable by approver, type, status, and date.
- Both lists export to Excel respecting any active filters.
- Federated QMS users can monitor approvals across all child organizations from the parent organization.
Product Guide: For further details, follow the link: [Task & Approvals]
4 Calibration Performance Analytics
A new Calibration Performance chart in the Analytics tab tracks historical calibration activity, giving quality teams the KPI data required for Management Review. This is separate from the existing forward-looking Gage Calibration chart, which remains unchanged.
Why it matters: Without a report comparing actual calibration dates against scheduled due dates, organizations cannot measure timeliness, identify late calibration trends, or produce the objective evidence required for ISO 9001 and AS9100 audits. This has been one of the most consistently requested additions across aerospace, medical device, and general manufacturing customers.
How it works: Navigate to the Analytics tab and select the Calibration Performance chart.
- Choose your X-axis: By Month, By User, or By Vendor
- Choose your Y-axis: On-Time vs. Overdue count, Calibration State, or % On-Time
- Filter by In-House vs. External, Cal Type, and Gage Type
- A new Calibrations Excel download is available from the Gages list, providing a flat list of every gage and calibration with full detail including Cal Date, Cal Due Date, user, condition before and after, and vendor.
5 User Roles Now Available to All Accounts
Roles (previously called QMS Roles) are now accessible to every 1factory account, not just accounts with the QMS module enabled. This expands workflow and accountability tools to your entire organization regardless of your current module configuration.
Why it matters: Being able to assign tasks and approval requirements to users based on their role, rather than selecting individuals manually, is what makes workflows scalable and consistent. When a CAPA is created, the right person gets assigned based on their role. When a document needs approval, it routes to the correct role automatically. This role-based assignment is what ties together the workflows for NCRs, CAPAs, Complaints, PPAP Core Documents, and more, and it is now available to every account.
How it works: Role types are defined in your List of Values (LOV) under the Master Data tab. Once your roles are defined, they can be assigned directly to user profiles, making it easy to manage who belongs to which role across your organization. Those roles can then be applied across the platform for workflow configurations, task assignments, and approval routing for documents, records, and plans. The label QMS Roles has been renamed to Roles throughout the platform.
Questions? We Are Here to Help.
If you have any questions about these features, need help getting started, or want to learn more about how these tools can work for your organization, please do not hesitate to reach out.
📧 Support: support@1factory.com
📧 Sales: sales@1factory.com
📞 Phone: +1-855-693-6836
We value your feedback and your partnership in helping us continue to improve the platform.