Transcript
Opening the PDF is not the whole test
A legacy E Q M S exports every approved record as P D F, the count matches, and every file opens. Can the system be retired? Not yet. The export may omit audit history, searchable metadata, signature meaning, record revision, attachments, and links between C A P A, changes, and related investigations.
Preserve required record meaning
Define the record inventory and retention rule. Preserve human-readable content, attachments, signer, time, meaning, revision, approved metadata, audit history, and relationship index where required. Retrieve representative old, unusual, large, open, and closed records using the roles that will operate and inspect the archive.
Close access and dependencies
Confirm interface shutdown, final reconciliation, account removal, legal holds, archive backup, supplier deletion, and future ownership. Document deviations and retained limitations. Exported P D Fs may be part of the answer, but retirement is supported only when records remain complete, accessible, linked, and interpretable for the required period.