Selejtek

Selejtek are defective or rejected items produced during manufacturing and quality control processes. The term derives from Hungarian selejt, meaning waste or junk. In factory practice, selejtek are items diverted from the normal product flow because they do not meet required specifications or are damaged beyond useful rework. In English-language contexts they are commonly referred to as scraps, rejects, or waste.

Causes and categories include a range of situations. Defective components due to material faults, damage during handling or transport, incorrect assembly, or process variation can produce selejtek. Additional categories include obsolete or surplus stock and items suitable only for limited salvage or rework.

Handling and disposition involve a formal workflow. Items are isolated and inspected to determine salvage potential, the need for rework, or disposal. Documentation and authorization are typically required to record the disposition as part of a selejtezési process. The disposition affects inventory planning, production scheduling, and cost accounting, with clear tracing of why and how the item was written off or redirected.

Accounting and performance implications are significant. Scrap reduces the recorded inventory value, and the related cost is typically charged as a loss or as a reduction of the cost of goods sold. Any salvage value, such as sale as scrap metal or reusable parts, is credited to income or a reduction of losses. Companies monitor scrap rate as a key quality and efficiency metric, often using lean and Six Sigma methods to minimize it.

Environmental and regulatory considerations include proper disposal and recycling of selejtek where possible. Disposal must comply with environmental, health, and safety regulations, with emphasis on reducing waste and recovering materials whenever feasible.