Quality system software has changed the way that the FDA thinks about record keeping and electronic signatures as they pertain to quality systems. Your quality manager is frequently required to sign, date, and approve certain documents generated as part of your quality system, but if your entire system is electronic, what controls are in place to ensure that the electronic signatures provided have the exact same weight and meaning as a physical signature? The controls which permit the use of electronic signatures and records as part of quality management systems are outlined in 21 CFR Part 11.
21 CFR Part 11 is a legal mandate for the implementation of electronic records - it requires any quality management system to exhibit certain features which support the integrity of the system as a whole. Greenlight Guru’s quality management system software has been designed specifically for the medical device industry to address the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11 and enforce best practices throughout your organization. Here's how:
21 CFR Part 11.50 (Subpart B) Signature Manifestations - This section enforces the requirement that every signed electronic record must have certain information associated with the signature: the printed name of the signer, the date when the signature was produced, and the intended meaning of the signature (review, approval, responsibility, or authorship). Greenlight Guru's QMS Software for medical device companies does this automatically, keeping you compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 throughout your product's lifecycle.
21 CFR Part 11.100 (Subpart C) Electronic Signatures - It is very important to the FDA and to the integrity of your electronic QMS that electronic signatures are assigned on a one-to-one basis, and that only the person who is assigned a specific signature can reproduce it within the system. Electronic signatures must be unique when they are assigned, and they can never be reassigned to anyone else. The owner of the signature must also certify in writing that the signature belongs to them and is the legal equivalent of a binding signature. Greenlight Guru’s user controls make it easy to designate users in the system, assign signatures to them, and properly certify them so they can start saving time (and paper) by maintaining electronic records for your organization.
21 CFR Part 11.300 (Subpart C) Controls for identification codes/passwords - When you assign a username and password to a user that they can use to electronically sign something, you need an electronic QMS that controls that process and the associated data in compliance with 21 CFR Part 11.300. Greenlight Guru's built-in features have you covered when it comes to controlling sensitive log-in information for your QMS, including:
The FDA's mandate for electronic signatures and records is meant to allow the widest possible use of these tools by outlining the security practices that manufacturers should follow to maintain the integrity of their systems. 21 CFR Part 11 isn't just about ensuring the integrity of your records, however, it's also about securing your QMS and protecting your corporate secrets under lock-and-key against unauthorized or nefarious users. Greenlight Guru QMS Software has all the tools to protect and secure your company secrets in your QMS and keep you in compliance with the required legislation.
Looking for an all-in-one QMS solution to advance the success of your in-market devices and integrates your quality processes with product development efforts? Click here to take a quick tour of Greenlight Guru's Medical Device QMS software →
There has been a lot of misleading information put out about 21 CFR Part 11 - we’ve got some tips to set it straight.
Learn how and why bootstrapping your medical device quality system works by implementing these 4 parts.
Here is an overview