When your PDM/EDM/KM gets on top of you! [product data management/electronic document management/knowledge management]

There are an increasing number of document management (DM) software technologies becoming available. Today, we are looking at a DM system which manages not only an organisation´s documents, but a system where data generated by traditional methods is captured and merged with the full potential of the users, maximising the capabilities of a business. This becomes a corporate knowledge base. DM systems are smart and you can do some very powerful things with your documents. However, they are still data-driven or legacy-data-driven! It must be borne in mind though that any document is only as good as the data that is fed into it and its management. The majority of DM systems today are not self-enclosed systems. Many have simple methods of integrating with the outside world and the ability to use technologies such as imaging and workflow, archiving, WYSIWYG viewing and the Internet. It is not a simple case of selecting a DM system purely to manage working documents. You should start at a high level. Get the support of management and make them the team to drive for this change. State your requirements, listing the valid as well as the ridiculous and sublime. In all instances, the overriding goal must be to know what your business needs. Knowing this enables you to filter out all the trash that would require you to change your business processes. The solution you select should be adaptable to suit your current business strategy and flexible to meet your business changes