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The 2015 version removed the quality manual. Here's what the standard actually requires and what's unnecessary tradition.
ISO 9001:2015 dramatically simplified the documentation requirement. There's no longer "documents" and "records" separately; everything is "documented information." This opens space to remove inherited bureaucracy. The common mistake is generating paper as if it were still 2008.
Documented information mandatory by specific clause:
Everything else is the organization's choice.
If your QMS still has these legacy procedures and they add no operational value, you can retire them without affecting conformity.
Three levels work well in an industrial SMB:
An 80-person manufacturing company typically operates with 15 to 25 documents. If you have 100, something's extra.
The standard doesn't specify retention periods. They're the organization's call based on legal and customer requirements. For Mexican automotive industry:
Shared Excel breaks down at 10 users. From the start we recommend a platform with:
Implementing SharePoint, Google Workspace or a QMS platform cuts QMS-lead admin load by 60%.
Inventory your current documents. Mark each one: mandatory by clause, operationally useful, or tradition. Third-category items are candidates for removal. A 30% reduction is common on the first pass and the external auditor won't notice (or will applaud).
Clause 7.4 requires communicating what matters about the QMS. Internal email doesn't work. Here's how to build channels that actually land.
Clause 7.2 requires documented competence. A generic training certificate isn't enough. Here's how to build a useful competence matrix.
Clause 7.5 requires traceable document control. Misconfigured SharePoint or Google Drive won't pass. Here's the minimum setup.