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ISO 9001:2008 section 4


4. Quality management system - ISO 9001:2008 section 4.2.3 Control of documents


...continued



ISO 9001: 2008 4.2.3e - ensure that documents remain legible and readily identifiable.

This is a no brainer, there is nothing worse than not being able to identify, not being able to find or not able to read the document your supposed to be working on.

Point of note: Electronic documents have a habit of looking wonderful on the PC they were created on, only to be a complete mess on the end user's, who may not have those fancy fonts, so be warned, remember your target audience...

Point of note: Another issue that can be irritating is people creating documents in the latest versions of programs and not backwardly saving them.  Remember the 98 percent of users still using the tried and tested software that is fit for purpose, and not the bells and whistles latest issue, and no doubt expensive


ISO 9001: 2008 4.2.3f - ensure that documents of external origin are identified and their distribution managed

It is important to remember that documents, in whatever format, include documents of external origin that are relevant to the various processes throughout the quality management system, including contracts, specification, design drawings, legislative and regulatory doctrine etc, so remember these will also be subject to the same controls as internally generated documents.

ISO 9001: 2008 4.2.3g - control of obsolete documents


Once an area many organizations would struggle with, as employees would often miss-place, hoard or copy controlled documents, only to have them re-appear at the most inconvenient time...  This is now an area that is far easier to control with modern technology. (see comments for 4.2.3d on the previous page)  Most organizations will place an "Uncontrolled If Printed" note on the first page of electronic documents to clearly indicate their status once printed.


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9001:2008 Section 4.2.3 requirements

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