What information should be included when documenting a discrepancy?

• A. Date and inspector ID alone.
• B. Precise location, symptom, suspected cause, recommended action, and required disposition with date and inspector ID.
• C. Discrepancy code and disposition only.
• D. Photos, location, and symptoms, with nothing else.

Answer: (B)

Documenting a discrepancy needs a complete, actionable record so maintenance can be tracked, assigned, and closed properly. The essential pieces to include are precise location, symptom, suspected cause, recommended action, and the required disposition with date, plus the inspector’s ID.

Precise location tells exactly where the issue is, so there’s no guesswork about what to inspect or repair. The symptom describes what was observed, conveying the failure or abnormal condition clearly. The suspected cause provides a starting point for investigation and helps guide the corrective steps. The recommended action shows what should be done to fix or address the discrepancy, and the required disposition with date indicates the final status (e.g., repair completed, item removed from service, inspection passed) and when it must occur. The inspector ID adds accountability and a traceable record of who documented the discrepancy.

Photos can be helpful, but they don’t replace the need for the above details; without location, symptom, action, and disposition (with date), the discrepancy can’t be properly resolved or tracked.