North Eastern Company (NE Company)* is starting work on more complex projects.  These projects have a significant increase in documentation and paperwork.  Until now, they have been keeping all purchasing, production, and test documentation in a binder they call a "redbook" (based on the color of the binder).  While this method has worked, they are concerned that it will become unmanageable with the increased documentation and work load.

Additionally, their current method makes it more difficult to distribute and control the information in production.  It is too common for down-line work centers to need the information contained in the redbook currently in use at other stations.  And, some employees create copies of the files so they can get the needed information before the redbook is released from prior work stations.  This creates the possibility of multiple versions of the documents and impedes the release and distribution of updated files.

How can NE Company accurately and efficiently manage the increase documentation and paperwork?  How can they provide documentation to production in a timely manner?  How do they prevent uncontrolled copies of the documentation?  What controls do they need to push documentation updates to production upon approval?

*Name has been changed