Before and during the 1980s
Hand-written or typed procedures and policies were kept in 3-ring binders for shift personnel to sign. Master copies of test sheets and log sheets were maintained so that copies could be made for use by technicians. Post-it Notes were a popular form of updates and temporary changes.
Early 1990s
Certifications like ISO 9002 became a popular way to show/prove that workers were executing their tasks using the latest approved procedure version with hard copy old versions maintained for safekeeping and documented rationale for the change.
Mid 1990s
In the mid-1990s software emerged with the ability to manage document repositories, editing, version incrementing, and access by the workers who needed them.
The 2000s
The era of integration. Quality engineers could create and edit quality specifications and equipment set points and the software would protect changes from the unauthorized and track who changed what and when. Captured measurement data was automatically assessed for conformance against the specs, and set points downloaded to machines, error proof. Testing procedures and material safety data sheets were accessible in the context of the work, such as on an electronic log sheet.
The 2010s
Widespread appearance of change management workflow software to step staff members through accepted MOC procedures while documenting the process.
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