---
title: Characteristics
slug: characteristics
createdAt: 2026-05-04T09:02:14.139Z
---

Characteristics are **reusable building blocks** in Mantsu's Quality Management (QM) module. Each characteristic defines a single quality check such as the type of measurement, the unit, the precision required and the plant(s) where it is valid. Once created, a characteristic can be linked to any number of inspection plans, avoiding duplication and ensuring consistency.

## Plant Independence

Characteristics are **plant-independent by design**: the same characteristic (e.g. 'pH Level') can be valid across multiple plants, while still being measured and validated in the same way.

## Characteristic Types

Every characteristic belongs to one of three types, which determines how the result is entered and validated during an inspection:

| Type             | Description                                                                                                                         | Example                                                                                    |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Quantitative** | A numeric measurement validated against a minimum and/or maximum boundary (tolerance range)                                         | Grain size in mm, humidity in %, fill weight in g, pH value, viscosity in mPa·s            |
| **Qualitative**  | A non-numeric, categorical result selected from a predefined list of acceptable and unacceptable options                            | Colour (pass/fail/deviation), visual inspection (ok/not ok), label readability (pass/fail) |
| **Calculated**   | A numeric result derived automatically from the values of two or more other quantitative characteristics in the same inspection lot | Surface area = width × length; Yield % = (confirmed qty / planned qty) × 100               |