| Plants need space to grow into. Companies need | | | | does it take anything to get routed or done? If the |
| markets to grow into. The size of the pot can inhibit | | | | answer comes back unknown or longer than |
| the growth of the plant if it is not large enough. The | | | | warranted, those are huge red flags. It could be a |
| plant unable to grow anymore will become dormant | | | | breakdown in a number of things, but accountability is |
| and probably die due to lack of room. A company, | | | | most likely the culprit. A third sign: what is the defect |
| whose documents are out of order and date, too will | | | | breaking point? How do we know? In other words, |
| quickly realize that it cannot grow because it is | | | | how many products have to get returned before it |
| restricted by audit failures, production setbacks, fines, | | | | becomes a real problem for the company? If the |
| and poor quality. Just like a plant stuck in a small pot. | | | | answer is not easy to find or identified then it can be |
| Quality is the size of the pot a company has been | | | | too late before any real action is taken to remedy |
| planted in. When the quality is strong, the pot is large | | | | problems. |
| enough for the company to grow and reach into | | | | The answers to the signs above will point the |
| new markets. The company's brand, reputation, and | | | | company in the right direction when searching for the |
| perceived value are easily recognizable as being | | | | next steps. Automation of quality documents into |
| worthy by customers. Just like the explosive growth | | | | systems like document management software, |
| and flowering a plant does as it expands. When the | | | | document control systems, or web-based quality |
| quality is poor, the pot gets smaller, and the | | | | solutions can seem daunting. There are many |
| company eventually has to be cut back. Its value, | | | | providers out there to choose from. At a minimum |
| brand, and reputation are easily identified, but for all | | | | any that you look at should help you meet the |
| the wrong reasons. | | | | regulations and standards you operate under, like |
| Gardeners know the signs of plant's growth being | | | | FDA 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 9001, or SQF to name a |
| restricted by the size of its pot; a company can do | | | | few. Beyond that the providers of the solutions you |
| the same. Manual processes for controlling and using | | | | seek should be able to directly point out how they |
| quality documents are fine when a company is small. | | | | will solve the signs you identified. A solution provider |
| It is easy to look across the desk at colleague or | | | | should be able to quantify in dollars not only the |
| walk to product floor that is just out back to talk | | | | amount you will save using their software, but also |
| face to face. So like a gardener knowing when to | | | | the amount you will earn in the future. In essence: |
| re-plant into a proper pot, the company must ask | | | | your growth. |
| itself," is it time to automate the approach to quality? | | | | Automation of your quality documents will help keep |
| Do we know the signs?" | | | | the pot expanding as your company grows. No |
| A company's first sign: does anyone use the system | | | | longer will you have to worry about actively looking |
| now? Simple yet powerful question asked first. If | | | | for signs; you will be able to monitor the needs and |
| employees are going outside the current system to | | | | adjust policies and procedures at the right time. |
| "get things done" then it is time for a change. Just | | | | Automation allows you to quickly identify problems |
| like when customers tell companies they do not like | | | | before they become larger than life. Switching to the |
| Brand X by not purchasing it. Your employees are | | | | automation of your quality documents is like planting |
| saying the same about the current system, they are | | | | a tree. It just needs a little watering from time to |
| finding the current method ineffective to conduct | | | | time and it grows deep strong roots that is the |
| business. A quick follow-up question should be what | | | | foundation of success for generations. |
| are they doing instead? The second sign: How long | | | | |