Documentation
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Operations manuals
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Reference tools
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Employee handbooks.
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Forms. Records.
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These are just some of the everyday items we take for granted that are usually generalised by referring to them as documents. If you’re serious about quality you know how important documentation is, and even if you don’t seek accreditation of some kind you’ll know all about it come the day when an incident occurs and the subsequent investigation identifies poor documentation as a contributing factor.
It may be poorly documented policy, inaccurate or out of date procedures manuals or just a general lack of documentation across the business.
Documentation is everywhere. Written procedures, policies or an instruction explaining what is done, how and why. If you’re a quality accredited organisation or aspire to become a quality orientated business the provision of consistently accurate documentation is vital.
But who's going to produce it and when?
Each organisations documentation should explain what it aims to achieve and how, providing employees with the necessary instruction of how tasks should be performed and the standard to which they should be conducted.
Records on the other hand are different. They contain information about an activity and don't exist until after the activity has been performed. Documents include quality manuals, specifications forms and procedures on such topics as internal quality audits, marketing, quality control, hazardous waste handling, document control, etc.
Verbal explanation just doesn't cut it in today's litigious environment and you can bet that over time the instruction given will vary and therefore continuity will be affected. For complex tasks there is no substitute for a clearly documented reference for employees to refer to, thus ensuring consistency at all times as long as it' is written accurately, clearly and of course complied with.
So how can PEC help? Well while your staff are busy with production and delivery PEC can amend and update your documentation for you. Far more cost effective than taking on a member of admin staff