ISO 9001 Document Control

ISO 9001 document control is essential to a quality management system. Although organizations have flexibility in the way they choose to document their quality management system (QMS), the standard defines how organizations develop the documentation needed in order to demonstrate planning, operation and control of processes, and the implementation and continual improvement of the QMS.

Organizations that want to demonstrate conformity with the requirements of ISO for certification, registration, contractual obligations, or other reasons, need to provide evidence of an effective implementation of a quality management system (QMS). You must be able to provide objective evidence of the effectiveness of processes and the overall quality management system. This objective evidence may be obtained through observation, measurement, test, or other means.

Documents communicate information, provide evidence of conformity, and allow for knowledge sharing. Documents may come in a number of forms, for example paper, electronic, or images.

ISO 9001 requires an organization establish, document, implement, and maintain a quality management system and continually improve its effectiveness. QMS documentation includes: a documented quality policy and quality objectives; a quality manual, documented procedures; documents needed for effective planning, operation and control of processes; and certain other records required by the international standard. The standard also specifically requires a documented procedure be established, documented, implemented and maintained.

The extent of the QMS documentation may differ from one organization to another due to the size of an organization and its types of activities, and the complexity of their processes.

All the documents that form part of the QMS must be controlled.

Document Locator is document control software that provides the essential capabilities for controlling documents according ISO regulations. Document control software allows you to automate records management policies, control access to information, and secure a complete history of all document activity for auditing. Examples include:

• Revision control
• Workflow review and approvals
• Security
• Audit logging

Document approval procedures define which files are final and approved and who made the approval. They record acceptance of documents, policies, work instructions, handbooks, and more.

In Document Locator, document approval steps are designed to support business requirements. Documents are routed and notifications are sent informing people of their tasks in review, acceptance and sign-off. As files are electronically routed, all approval actions are recorded in the system. Routing can be configured to automate tasks based on approval status.

Document Locator provides controlled yet flexible access to documents in your quality management program. Security determines who has access to which files, and what actions they can perform. Access to files is possible via the native Windows Explorer integration, online in a Web browser, or on a mobile device.