Unattached (stand-alone) Forms acceptable for AS9100C?

[wooden nickle]

Our Document Control Clerk stated today that we have forms that are not attached to anything they are standalone. Is this policy ok in AS9100C

 

[Michael_M]

Re: Unattached forms

I am not sure what your question is regarding so I will answer to the best of my ability hoping I hit your question.

1. Forms (not filled out) are part of document control (4.2.3). In essence, these need to be controlled to prevent unintended use, legible, identifiable, and relevant. We have all forms logged in an excel file (because we are old fashion) with form number, revision, who is responsible, and who it applies to. We ended up 'controlling' some forms that seemed, at the time, to be silly such as vacation requests, person tool purchases, and the like. However, it was pointed out that these fall under 6.2 so we gave them identifications. (Note: I still disagree that things like Vacation requests, and office supply request forms should be on this list but I was the loser in this argument).

2. If you are talking about records (form is filled out) that falls under 4.2.4 and must be maintained for the duration. You and/or your customer define the time. For example, material certifications per our customer must be maintained for 2-10 years (depending on customer) so we just maintain all material certifications for 10+ years. Vacation Requests are stored for 1 year after the vacation is taken (we defined this time).

I hope this helps.

 

[wooden nickle]

Re: Unattached forms

I am not sure what your question is regarding so I will answer to the best of my ability hoping I hit your question.

1. Forms (not filled out) are part of document control (4.2.3). In essence, these need to be controlled to prevent unintended use, legible, identifiable, and relevant. We have all forms logged in an excel file (because we are old fashion) with form number, revision, who is responsible, and who it applies to. We ended up 'controlling' some forms that seemed, at the time, to be silly such as vacation requests, person tool purchases, and the like. However, it was pointed out that these fall under 6.2 so we gave them identifications. (Note: I still disagree that things like Vacation requests, and office supply request forms should be on this list but I was the loser in this argument).

2. If you are talking about records (form is filled out) that falls under 4.2.4 and must be maintained for the duration. You and/or your customer define the time. For example, material certifications per our customer must be maintained for 2-10 years (depending on customer) so we just maintain all material certifications for 10+ years. Vacation Requests are stored for 1 year after the vacation is taken (we defined this time).

I hope this helps.

Thank you Michael M, what I am refering to is: does a form need to be attached to a procedure or work instruction. I don't know how anyone would know it existed if it did not. I am getting some pushback on this.

 

[DannyK]

It is not a requirement that the form is attached to a procedure or work instruction. Just as long as it is controlled with a date or revision or as per your document control procedure.

 

[Mike S.]

I am having a hard time thinking of a form we use that is not mentioned in a procedure or WI.

Wooden Nickle -- can you give an example?

 

[Michael_M]

I can give an example of a form that is not referenced in a work instruction, procedure or process. The Vacation Request form. We do not have an reference to it but it is still a controlled form since Human Resources uses it.

Personally I think it is the 'best form' we have

 

[howste]

Our Document Control Clerk stated today that we have forms that are not attached to anything they are standalone. Is this policy ok in AS9100C

The short story is that AS9100 does not require (blank) forms to be referenced in another document.

I'm sure that there are lots of reasons why you or your coworkers may want them to be referenced in other document(s). If they are being used effectively as intended, then you should be fine as is. If you're not getting information recorded that should be because people don't know the forms exist, then do something about it.

 

[KN Quality]

Most organizations will usually reference the associated forms to the procedure that applies but there is no requirement to attach it to the procedure. With regard to a form for vacation as you have stated in you comment above. A vacation form would not fall under the standards definition of a QMS document in my opinion. The standard is more concerned with forms that support the evidence of your system being effectively implemented. Now with the AS100 this might actually change some with the standard going into areas of the organization that it has never gone before.