Tracking revisions and document numbering

The essence of document control is to ensure that the correct, valid documents are available to the right people, in the right place, at the right time. There must be no confusion regarding the process and numbering. The system of review, revision, approval and implementation should also be simple and easy to implement. The actual system varies extensively between laboratories. Your approach also depends on how automated your document management system. A more funstional system provides for links to the correct documents so the impact / risk of a complicated naming and numbering system is less of an issue.

As you are still implementing you system, I suggest you look at the risk of change /adoption but also opportunity going forward and decide on what the best approach is for you. Best practices includes archiving and making documents or versions obsolete, so and you can decide, if risk is acceptable, to “retire” and recycle/reissue document numbers – as long as it does not create confusion or traceability issues.

Typically I would not advise on a single operational procedure document. A Quality Manual serves the purpose of stating policies and integrating all the processes and document in one place. For review and control purposes, separate procedures makes more sense and works better in terms of scalability as your laboratory develops. Either way the central document is your Document Control procedure and your List of internal documents and records.

For more information on document control, see the ISO 17025 toolkit document template: Document and Record Control Procedure at https://advisera.com/17025academy/documentation/document-and-record-control-procedure/