Documentation Control

A controlled document is a reference document which, trough the course of its lifecycle may be reviewed, modified and distributed several times. 

Special procedures for documentation control (usually called documentation procedures, documentation control procedures or control of documents procedures) which is used to know which documents are indeed expected to be vital at some point. 

One type of controlled document is quality records.

~A quality record is a special type of controlled document. 

~Quality records are proof that an organization is complying with its procedures and policies.

The main objectives of controlled documents are:

■ To assure the quality of the document

■ To assure the document;s technical competeness, compliance with approved document structure and use instructions (use of templates, proper signing, etc)

■ To support investigation of software failure causes and to assign responsibility as part of corrective and other actions. 

Decision issues regarding controlled documet lists:

■ Deciding about which document is a controlled document is a quality record.

■ Deciding about the adequate level of control for each controlled document type.

■ following up of compliance with the controlled document types list