Drawing Management Questions

• Electronic files for the most part have replaced the use of microfilm and microfiche.
• Efficient document management is only a minor part of effective concurrent engineering practices.
• Quality standards in some industries allow for electronic documents to serve as a permanent record if they are properly controlled.
• After a drawing has been released, an engineering change order is used to document and approve drawing changes.
• Because electronically stored files can easily be altered, they may not be considered acceptable for documentation.
• Individual companies often have their own standards of data management.
• It is a good idea to have a single directory in which all employees store work.
• Design databases can be used to streamline the design process.
• PERT or Gantt charts are used specifically to track time engineering change orders.
• To be useful, drawings must be stored electronically in a manner that satisfies the requirements for a static snapshot of the design at the time of release.
• Design milestones and reviews help ensure that the design process is timely.
• It is important to establish a procedure and name files systematically.
• Legal standards for how long engineering drawings need to be retained are standardized in the United States.