We’ve all had the experience of keeping two or more versions of a document and—inevitably—sending or using the wrong one, uncertain of which is most current and accurate. If it’s just two versions of a letter to Aunt Minnie in Spokane, that’s one thing, but if operating procedures change and appear in a newer version of a document that doesn’t replace the old one, it may mean thousands of dollars in waste or lost sales.
Making sure that all employees—in all facilities, in every relevant department—have updated access to all documents related to an organization’s quality system, including the quality manual, procedures, work instructions, drawings and forms, is a Herculean task. Sisyphus would not have exchanged his rock for this job.