Scalable Engineering Document Solutions

What’s the difference between Asset Information Management and Engineering Content Management and Document or Drawing Management solutions?

As market complexity has evolved, so too have the systems that support engineering information management. Paper-based archives are increasingly being replaced with digital warehouses so that data is available globally. Manual processes such as project management, approval cycles and performance monitoring can now be automated, saving time and resources and simplifying the audit process. However, information management solutions differ greatly in the functionality they offer, and do not always match the needs of the organization. 

Document (or Drawing) Management System (DMS)

Document and Drawing Management software systems manage single document or drawing files. Files may be created, approved, updated and made available to the organization, before being archived. This is called the Document Lifecycle. However, DMS does not manage the essential relationships between documents or the asset(s) to which they relate. While DMS functionality is sufficient for generic document management, it does not meet the needs of managing technical engineering information during change projects.

Engineering Content Management (ECM) Solution

Engineering Content Management (also known as Engineering Data Management or EDM) enlarges on this scope by managing all of the data used during engineering: technical documents, drawings and data per project. ECM/EDM supports secure access to controlled content as well as options for search and retrieval, view, redline, mark-up and compare, CAD integration (such as reference management, X-refs, Hybrids, assembly structures and 3D support), document workflows, revision management and audit trail logging. 

Asset Information Management (AIM) Solution

Asset Information Management has evolved further to meet the needs of global Owner/Operators. An AIM solution not only manages the documents, drawings and all data from engineering projects, (Document Lifecycle management), it also manages the Project Lifecycle and all of the information relating to an asset throughout the entire Asset Lifecycle.

AIM takes ECM further through the creation of “tag-doc” relationships. Unique asset identifiers (tag numbers) allow users to immediately access related documents through search, use of predefined hotspots or through integration with Facility Management or Enterprise Asset Management systems. This integration creates feedback functionality, connecting maintenance & engineering.

AIM solutions also provide an overview of the active and closed projects in which master documents are being used and tracks which standards are in use in which projects. AIM facilitates master data management, controls the assignment of documentation to the various change projects while in relation to the assets, manages concurrent projects and handles data exchange with external contractors. AIM allows for the isolation of work in progress and provides all tools for documents used in multiple modification projects at the same time. This enables monitoring across sites (and processes) while protecting data consistency and compliance.

In this way, AIM becomes an essential part of optimizing asset management and increasing profitability. AIM solutions are also highly adaptive and can be implemented to facilitate various levels of maturity within the organization – but with the scalability to support your business’ growth.

Accruent offers the leading Engineering Content Management solution:

• Full Engineering Content Management capabilities
• Multi-CAD integration
• Support for engineering collaboration
• Transmittal management for work packages
• Full document control with dashboards
• Master data management
• An isolated work area
• Automated data validation before master data is updated
• Full audit trail for regulatory compliance
• Scalable to a full Asset Information Management solution integrated with EAM systems

Accruent’s AIM solutions integrate Engineering Content Management and Enterprise Asset Management, bridging the gap between engineering and maintenance to ensure the performance of mission-critical assets and avoid operational disruptions.