The NTF Problem Every TMF Must Face

The Netflix series Stranger Things is known for its 80s nostalgia, pop culture references, and unforgettable monsters such as the Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and Vecna. Each emerges from the same evil but terrorizes Hawkins in different ways. Their rise, reveal, and defeat define each season and keep us watching until the very end.

In the TMF world, monsters exist too. They appear as Notes to File. These documents, meant to explain discrepancies in trial conduct, often cause more harm than good. An NTF can easily become the Demogorgon of your TMF, lurking unseen until it is too late.

Let us take a closer look at the three monsters of the TMF and how to keep them contained.

The Demogorgon The Ever Growing NTF
The Demogorgon is a predator ruled by hunger. The same is true for an NTF that keeps growing in scope. This version often lists dozens of impacted sites or documents and tries to explain systematic issues after the fact. To be valid, an NTF must define the problem and provide evidence of resolution. Most do not. Instead, they replace due diligence with distraction. True resolution belongs in a CAPA, not a note.

The Mind Flayer The Missing Document NTF
The Mind Flayer works from the shadows, spreading chaos through everything it touches. A missing document NTF does the same. It pretends to fix a gap that only prevention could solve. The reality is simple. No note can replace a missing document. The only cure is prevention through continuous TMF QC that verifies quality, timeliness, and completeness. Reducing latency between document creation and filing is your best defense.

Vecna The Unnecessary NTF
Vecna preys on the weak, exposing every hidden fear. The unnecessary NTF does the same. It draws regulatory attention to the very areas you least want to highlight. Before writing an NTF, pause and ask if it is truly needed. Following existing TMF processes often resolves the issue without adding risk. Sometimes the most powerful choice is not writing one at all.

The TMF tells the story of how a trial was planned, conducted, and closed. Perfection is not required, but clarity and control are. When NTFs take over, they distort that story and undermine confidence. Use training, real time reporting, and QC cycles to fight back.

Every hero in Hawkins faced the darkness and fought their way out. You can do the same. Keep your TMF free of monsters and ready for whatever comes next.