Complex manufacturers are faced with a mountain of quality documents to complete every week. Between the documents required for process flow, compliance, and auditing purposes, it can be difficult to track the necessary records without an effective document management system in place. With data coming from different sources and a need to share documents across the enterprise, an electronic document management system is almost always a prerequisite to successful manufacturing.

A Document Management System can provide the following advantages to manufacturers:

Central Repository for Documents
A single source of information greatly reduces the chance for error and eliminates misplaced documents. A document management system streamlines the document control process and provides for easy storage and retrieval of files. An automated electronic backup prevents lost documents and gives companies peace of mind that sensitive information is protected.

Provides Organizational Structure
An effective document management system can help users take a systematic approach to document control. Document trees can be created for documents that are related to each other. Primary and secondary documents can be used in situations where the initial document should remain intact.  A simple keyword search brings users to the desired document stored within the system. Overdue work escalations can notify supervisors if assigned work is past due.

Enables Revision Control
The ability to control the latest version of any document is vital. Paper documentation and disparate systems can introduce multiple versions of the same document. The check-in/check-out process is automatic within a document management system, ensuring revisions are current and only the newest version is available for editing.

Keeps Files Secure
Document security is of the utmost importance when dealing with personnel records, financial projections, banking records, trade secrets, and proprietary company processes. A document management system can restrict users based on role, preventing any unauthorized access to confidential documents.

Satisfies Document Retention Requirements
Many quality and compliance related documents are required to be retained for a defined period of time. Mandated record retention can be easily automated within a document management system. Companies also save on off-site storage costs and eliminate any time delay associated with accessing such records.

Provides a Complete Audit Trail
A comprehensive document history is maintained within the system. The software recognizes when a change occurs and documents who it was that made the change. All documents necessary for quality compliance are archived and can be immediately referenced for audit purposes.

A document management system saves valuable time and money by increasing departmental efficiencies. Begin the process of better document control and contact TIP Technologies today for a demo of its document management capabilities.