The document control process was a major source of employee contention and management attention. There were fewer than five people who could successfully implement a change using the old system. The document control process was a major bottleneck for the introduction of new products. In January 2000, we implemented an electronic document control system and realized immediate improvement to our overall processes. In addition, the company trained more people on the change process.
Every functional department has a person capable of changing a document and launching it.
We are now able to maintain three times the volume of document changes with only five hours a week of document control support. Our approval cycle has been reduced to 24 hours. Process cycle times can also be dramatically improved, according to Ray Goulet, quality assurance engineer at Marchi Systems Inc., a thermal systems manufacturer in Redwood City, California. There are many benefits that can be achieved by implementing an electronic document control and change management system. No QS-9000 assessment audit findings for four plants since the software was installed Benchmarking between sister plants without leaving their desks Eliminated travel for monitoring document control Development of corporate control plans, forms, etc.