In my own way, I'm going to tell you how to build a watch, even though you only asked for the time.
I think it is important that you first understand the underlying process you are trying to control.. At the end of this post, I'll discuss the factors in Electronic Document Management to guide you in selecting software to help you do what you ask.
First:
The term for the process you are trying to get under control is
"Configuration Management." You should Google that term for other insight into the process.
The basis of Configuration Management is to do the following, more or less simultaneously:
- go through a formal process of revision and approval when you change any aspect of the part or document
- make a determination about the compatibility of the changed part or document with all the other Associated Documents (a specific term)
- determine if any of the Associated Documents must be revised to be compatible in form, fit, or function with the original changed document
- notify all parties who may be concerned about the change and get acknowledgment that change is implemented and obsolete documents or processes are withdrawn
- monitor the process to ensure all the changes work together
That may seem overly complicated. Let's explore a very simple change and see how the steps above would fit in.
One of my favorite examples I frequently use
(to carry a premise of saving on assembly cost) is switching from Phillips Head fasteners to
Torx drive or square drive fasteners for more efficient assembly. (Form and Fit of thread profile and length are the same, fastener Function remains - service personnel may need notice to add
Torx driver to kit, but can replace with current stock of Phillips head)
On the surface, this is a simple change, but consider:
- organization needs to make a formal document change on the part, checking and approving the change.
- We check the compatibility with the mating parts, but we also have to
- change work instruction, assembly tools, inventory (use up old inventory first?), purchasing (same or different supplier? same or different price?), repair instructions sent to field personnel, pricing on the final product, advertising, etc.
- notify all parties - quality inspectors, assembly workers, quality inspectors at customer, suppliers, inventory clerks, repair stations, decide whether repair stations can continue to repair with Phillips head in inventory or must implement new Torx, decide whether recall is necessary to change out old parts,
- continue to monitor how all parties adapt to and implement change and decide whether further modification of any of the steps is necessary
All of us go through these steps consciously or unconsciously. The key is to do the steps purposefully and consistently and to record the steps as they are completed to assure optimum efficiency. (It would be foolish to scrap or sell off all the old Phillips head fasteners and order in all new Torx ones, only to discover no one had thought to order new Torx drivers.)
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Second:
Here are pertinent excerpts from a much longer post I wrote in the ASQ Discussion Forums years ago (
9-3-2004).
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I know lots about "electronic document management" (EDM) software.
<SNIP>
Make sure you know and understand the difference between "document sharing" and "document management."
Here's a brief summary to start you off:
Document Management Software
Background:
An organization wants to improve efficiency of document management by “grafting” a program over current legacy files and all newly-created files which will provide the following minimum benefits:
a) Ease of Search & Retrieval (on different fields/characteristics)
b) Ensure only the most recent revision is available on standard Search menu
c) Automate the procedure of notifying pertinent parties a document is ready for redlining
d) Maintain an audit trail for the status of documents (released or waiting for checking/approval [and by whom])
e) Allow “full preview” of documents without opening native programs – i.e. AutoCAD documents can be viewed without latest revision of AutoCAD being resident on user’s computer.
f) Permit “group printing” of documents, regardless of native file format.
g) Maintain up to 30 security levels on any document, determining whether user has authority to create, modify, redline, view, print, copy, etc.
How do they work?
The primary feature of Document Control Software is a relational database which manipulates very small files called “metatags”, which relate to certain attributes of documents. Basic attributes are file name, revision level, author, topic, key words, type of file format, etc. which are used for field headings in the database.
By querying the database, a user retrieves a “menu” of documents which meet the search criteria. Self-contained viewing software permits a user to view and print documents, regardless of the native file format. The views can be scrolled, zoomed, and cropped (i.e. user can print an enlarged detail of a document.)
Users who have redline authority can markup documents without invoking the native file program (the redlines are saved as “overlays” in separate files without changing the original document.)
Users who have checking/approval/redline authority can be automatically notified via email when a document is ready for their review. The program will track when and whether the review is completed and maintain an audit trail for “real time” status reports on any or all documents in the review process.
By keying on the attribute “Revision level”, the program can ensure only the most recent, authorized revision is available to most users, reserving authority to view “superseded” documents to special categories of users.
An important consideration in grafting legacy documents into the new system is choosing fields pertinent to the organization. Many documents, like autocad and word documents have features which provide automatic tags (create date, author, department, etc.) [click on "properties" under File in a Word document to get an idea of already available fields.]
The problem is most users write documents which still show "valued customer" as the author because they have never explored the Properties feature.
An expense to consider is going back into each legacy document and adding the meta tags which allow for sorting and retrieval.
I hope this helps - there are many consultants like me who would come in and give your organization background on choosing the best brand for your organization. Caution is "Are they truly independent or do they have bias toward one brand?"-Wes Bucey, Quality Manager
I didn't add in that post that most software programs have web versions, too. In point of fact, the documents "could" be located either on one server or scattered among hundreds or even thousands of hard drives or servers as long as they were connected or accessible via password over a network, a virtual private network, or the internet.
[<SNIP>
Back to today
Google "electronic document management" to see some other thoughts on this topic. I hesitate to recommend ANY product by brand name, because the competitive nature of the business is that one company can be hopelessly obsolete in a month or two and another can have a great breakthrough in the same period. Regulatory laws change quickly - a user's current and projected situation in that regard are important factors. Current quantity of documents and projected number of authors and changes are a major factor. Collaboration with suppliers and customers is another big factor.