IATF CARA is a file based application keeping old reports in the report list is a comfort feature. Reports with finished NC management must be saved as file and then removed from the report list. If an inheritance is intended (for surveillance and/or special) it can be done beforehand so reports do not have to be reloaded. After completing your work please save the report or the backup to persistently secure the data. This is a technical limitation due to the size of the client response attachments.
IATF CARA is designed as a file based application resolving one report at a time allowing to work on multiple reports types at once. It is extended by the report list which will keep older reports active in IATF CARA.
Because IATF CARA is a browser cache driven application keeping 20 reports in the browser cache with large attachments is not part of the design and will result in slowing down of the application and possible problems with the browser cache. The browser cache is controlled by the browser and device and outside of the control of IATF CARA and is not accepted as permanent storage solution, because other applications or the deletion of the browser cache will result in deleted IATF CARA data. You can save the report at any point or secure all data using the backup function. Each saved report will receive an additional number and allows you to go back to an older version.
Intended workflow of the IATF CARA is:
After completing the nc management for the audit report the report is saved in the DMS/server storage of the company and reloaded and reused if an inheritance has to be be made for next audit cycle. After completing the workflow the report file is kept in the company's storage system secure and has to be removed from the report list in IATF CARA. Inheritance to a special report can be made before removing the report from the report list.
It is also possible to inherited the upcoming audit keep the inherited report ready for the next audit and removing the finished audit report after the report file was saved. The browser database is not intended for large data amounts due to attachments in the NCs keeping upcoming audits without upcoming audits does not cause a problem.
Step by step for fully completed report incl. NC management
Save the completed audit report on your hard disk/company storage (json and pdf)
Make the required inheritance for the follow up audit
Remove the report from the report list
What is part of the saved audit report:
The audit report contains all entries the auditor made in the audit report and it contains the full nc-management report. They are both saved together in one package including all attachments and responses.
Due to the requirement on IATF CARA of keeping files with large attachments. It will receive an update in the way data is stored which will allow it to keep more files in the list while remaining performant. This will not change that IATF CARA is a file based software solution but extend the already provided comfort functionality.