A corrected report can be legitimate, but the change should remain understandable. An updated PDF should not erase which statement changed or why.
ASQ's auditing guidance emphasises evaluating relevant, verifiable evidence against defined criteria. ASQ — Auditing.
Identify the change
For a product-evidence file, distinguish an administrative correction from a new test or changed technical conclusion. Obtain clarification from the responsible issuer rather than inferring the reason from a later file date.
Keep the relationship
Preserve the original and amended references in the controlled record. Ensure the applicable version is used for the actual decision. A tidy folder is useful only if it retains the evidence chain needed to understand the current conclusion.
Source reviewed 25 October 2026. Interpretation and original diagrams: PLUSHIP / Qunhe. Examples are illustrative.
Related reading
Keep Unfavourable Results in the Quality Evidence Record
The Edition of a Test Method Can Matter to a Report's Use
Substrate and Surface-Coating Lead Questions Need Distinct Evidence