The sole purpose of document review is to ensure compliance with ISO standards: true or false?

Document review serves multiple purposes that go beyond merely ensuring compliance with ISO standards. While compliance is indeed a significant aspect of document review, the process is also essential for evaluating the effectiveness, relevance, and accuracy of the documentation within the quality management system.

During a document review, organizations have the opportunity to assess whether the documents accurately reflect current practices, meet the needs of stakeholders, and drive continual improvement. It involves checking whether data and information are properly represented, ensuring there are no redundancies or outdated practices, and confirming that the documents align with organizational objectives.

Moreover, document reviews can highlight areas for improvement and can lead to corrective actions if inconsistencies or deficiencies are identified. This comprehensive approach to document review aligns with the principles of ISO 9001, which emphasize not just compliance but also continual improvement, risk management, and customer satisfaction. Thus, saying the sole purpose of document review is compliance does not capture the full spectrum of its importance and contributions to a robust QMS.