Compare the packet layer
What should a job shop buy to make one audit packet reviewable?
Keep the ERP as the job record. Add a packet thread when the room needs requirement, evidence, owner, decision, and release together. Buy a full QMS suite only when the broader scope justifies it.
Four buying shapes
Storage is not the audit thread.
This compares scope, not vendor equivalence. Confirm security, integration, and commercial terms before purchase.
| Option | Keeps | Missing or added | Public price signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email / folders | Files and correspondence | No single owner, review state, or release thread | Already owned; manual assembly remains |
| ERP | Job, routing, traveler, status | System of record—not the review packet | Existing ERP agreement |
| QMS Readiness | Requirement, evidence status, owner, human release | Read-only packet layer; controlled pilot | Scoped on the call; not a $25,000 QMS |
| Enterprise QMS suite | Broader quality-system controls | Larger implementation and scope | Official vendor: custom quote; public directories list from about $25,000/year |
The enterprise-suite figure is a public directory listing, not our quote or an official current vendor price. Confirm directly with the vendor. MasterControl official pricing · Capterra public listing