Document control helps manufacturers keep their documents in check. Organizations use document control software to manage structured documents used in the design, development and manufacturing of products, throughout their entire lifecycles.

Our modern history is defined by the advent of writing. Writing is humankind’s principal technology for collecting, manipulating, storing, retrieving, communicating and disseminating information. 

Quality and compliance are all about consistency and repeatability. Change is often seen as a risk. These are times of dramatic change, with a new digital manufacturing paradigm and ongoing pandemic both accelerating the rate of transformation.

Back in October 2012, our column was dedicated to clearing up the difference between training certificates and certifications. At the time, ASQ had been offering certifications for the quality professional for nearly 45 years. 

Implementing a document control system is a good way to improve your processes, no matter what industry you are in. Having everything in one place helps you organize and handle your processes, job descriptions and other important material.

A robust document control management process lies at the heart of a quality management system (QMS); almost every aspect of auditing and compliance verification is determined through the scrutiny of documented evidence. As the saying goes: “If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.”

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.

In the mid 1980s my company got its first PC for accounting and a database of client/case records. It was a revolution!