Formtek offers a pre-packaged solution for Engineering Data Management using Alfresco.

The Formtek Engineering Data Management Module is pre-configured with Engineering Drawing and Engineering Document types with view, edit and search forms specific to an Engineering organization's needs. The EDM Module includes a converter which renders flash and thumbnail images of dwg, dwf, and dxf drawing types. The EDM Module will also convert these file types to PDF, on-demand.

The Formtek Engineering Data Management Module for Alfresco provides an installation-ready, minimal services solution for a secure, enterprise engineering document and drawing management and collaboration foundation that allows a business to effectively manage all engineering documentation across its distributed enterprise. The EDM Solution cuts costs and improves efficiency for engineering, design, manufacturing, and construction applications.

The Formtek EDM Solution provides flexible yet secure access to engineering information through access control and user definition options that allow authorized users specific privileges to designated data. At the core of the Formtek EDM Solution is the Alfresco Enterprise repository that guarantees controlled access and tracking for any actions that are performed on a document. The solution provides an audit trail with history features. It stores all transactions made to a document, including checkout and revision, which will improve quality control. By using the control features, the Customer can quickly identify who accessed or changed the information, when a change was made, and why.

The solution also facilitates collaboration throughout the engineering process (reference the figure below). Engineering documents can be securely distributed for review and approval. During collaboration sessions - when markups and comments are frequently made - the content of the document is maintained and information is recorded and stored with the document. The solution also tracks and stores the voting history associated with the approval processes.

This solution is available for Alfresco Enterprise version 3.3 or later, with an easy JAR file installation.