How Electronic Document Management (EDM) and Workflow Can Benefit the Entire Organization

Over the last couple of years, we have talked about electronic document management (EDM) and product data management (PDM) systems with many of our customers. In many cases, the focus of these discussions has been in regard to many engineering drawings within the engineering department. While the benefits of EDM and PDM can be large when confined to engineering, the benefits can become enormous when spread to other departments in the organization. The purpose of this article is to give examples of how other departments in the organization can benefit from the use of these systems.

Manufacturing can:

-Make drawings, instruction sheets, routings, CNC programs, etc. easily and quickly locatable to shop floor personnel in an electronic format

-Help ensure that all manufacturing is performed on the latest and not an old versions of part drawings

-Quickly document and report problems to engineering via document redlining

-Seamlessly share files with remote plant locations

Quality can:

-With electronic workflow, help achieve and maintain ISO, QS and other certifications ensuring that proper procedures are being followed

-Maintain and access a complete audit trail of all document modifications

-Immediately update affected personnel on changes to any quality procedures

Sales can:

-Quickly access and view engineering and marketing information and share it with sales prospects, if desired

-Via electronic workflow, instantly check the status of quotes, proposal drawings, etc. that are being processed by other departments

Marketing and Technical Publications can:

-Save time and money by making parts manuals, operation manuals, etc. available to customers and distributors electronically rather than via hard copy

Accounting and Finance can:

-Quickly route and monitor accounts payable invoices via electronic workflow

-Scan all types of paper financial documents in order to make them more secure, more accessible and safe from fire

Customer Service can:

-Quickly search for, locate and view any documents necessary for providing customer assistance such as product drawings, assembly instructions, parts manuals, etc. (including old revisions)

Purchasing can:

-Search for and view product drawings and other documentation

-Quickly access and share files as necessary with suppliers

Maintenance can:

-Search for, locate and view machine and facility drawings for maintenance and repair purposes in order to reduce plant downtime

Upper Management can:

-Quickly generate reports on the status of projects and open work items

-With electronic workflow, ensure that company personnel are following the procedures set down by management

-Know that personnel are only able to access those documents for which they are authorized

-Show that their company is using the most modern and up to date tools in order to do the most efficient, cost effective and high quality work for customers

These are just a few of the specific benefits of implementing systems like AutoManager Meridian/Teamwork and SmarTeam. If you would like to learn more specifics about how these products could benefit your organization, dont hesitate to contact us.