Randy Stewart said:
Wallyowally,
Our system has been operating with the "All Printed Copies are Uncontrolled" for 3 years now. We have not received a NC on our doc control for that to date. We started with CAD is Master for prints 5 years ago and rolled that into our procedures and work instructions.
Randy, you're my hero!
Our system is similar to yours and we, too, have had no problems with it. Where the breakdown can potential occur with companies pursuing this route is in discipline/training. It's all fine and dandy to say that printed copies are uncontrolled but the employees have to believe in that process *and* follow it.
Humans are, by nature, a lazy species. Yours Truly will even prefer to lean over and grab the hard copy I printed off two weeks ago versus going into the computer system to find it...and this is the process that I'm responsible for maintaining!
Time, training, and adherence to the process are needed to ensure that all employees get onboard with the idea that only electronic copies are controlled...but it *is* doable.