Which records should the RME maintain to ensure quality control traceability?

• A. Checklists, design reviews, design calculations, and sign-off records.
• B. Only final design specifications.
• C. Marketing materials and client testimonials.
• D. Sign-off records alone.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that quality control traceability rests on having documented evidence of who reviewed and approved each step, and when. Sign-off records serve as the formal evidence of acceptance for each milestone or artifact. When an item like a design calculation, a checklist, or a design review is completed, a sign-off ties that work to an authorized person and a specific time, creating a verifiable chain from the current product back to its inputs and verifications. This makes it possible to audit what was reviewed, who approved it, and when, which is what traceability is all about. Other artifacts by themselves show what was done, but without sign-offs to confirm formal approval, there isn’t a single, auditable authorization point that links all steps together. Sign-off records thus provide the clear, accountable trail needed to prove that quality controls were applied and that the product meets requirements.