AS9100 Clause 7.5.1 – General

AS9100 7.5.1 General is a clause in the AS9100 quality management system standard that requires organizations to establish and maintain documented information to support the effective operation of their quality management system. The documented information must be:

• Suitable for the purpose for which it is used
• Accurate and up-to-date
• Readily accessible to those who need it
• Under control to ensure that it is:
  • maintained as necessary
  • protected from unauthorized changes
  • retained for a defined period of time

The documented information required by AS9100 will vary from organization to organization, depending on the size and complexity of the organization, the nature of its products or services, and the complexity of its processes. However, some of the common types of documented information that may be required include:

• Quality policy and objectives
• Quality manual
• Procedures
• Work instructions
• Forms
• Records

Organizations should establish and maintain a documented information system that ensures that the necessary documented information is created, maintained, and controlled effectively. The documented information system should be tailored to the specific needs of the organization and should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that it remains accurate and up-to-date.