CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
3 June 2009
Product News
CONTACT Software Expands PDM/PLM Portfolio by Ad Hoc Workflows
CONTACT Software GmbH further expands its CIM DATABASE PDM/PLM platform portfolio within the process support segment by its new Ad Hoc Workflow module. It bridges the gap between hierarchically planned, system-based workflows and spontaneously initialised procedures that so far were solved via email or other means. Amongst others, the new component features easy-to-use handling for occasional users, direct access to parts and documents within the PDM/PLM data-hub, an integrated task management, encompassing accounting and archiving services and an online overview of work-in-progress.
In contrast to object lifecycle requirements, where the object status – such as the interaction between manufacturing, testing, release and de-activation of a part is depicted - a workflow orchestrates interdependent task. Due to its project nature, unforeseeable intermediate results, and a high degree of parallelism, product design however, demands further reaching requirements for an effective and efficient process support. Unplanned changes and modifications are common currency in the course of a project; pre-planned procedures are not appropriate in such instances. Here, developers need more flexibility.
CONTACT’s new component now links the virtue of validated, system-supported workflows with the advantage of utmost flexibility, supplemented by integral model services. It allows users and work groups to determine replicable procedures according to their specific demands and to save them in templates – way beyond centralized, standard workflows, designed by key-users or admin staff. A major requirement for was usability. Even the occasional user should be able to initiate a workflow as fast and easy as email. In consequence, the look-and-feel is aligned to email dialogues with address lists, attachments and (optional) message texts. The address list is depicted per default as a set of parallel tasks and may – upon demand – be rearranged into parallel and sequential steps via a graphically interactive drag-and-drop.
Ad Hoc Workflow is integrated with the CIM DATABASE modules Managed Processes, Task Management and Object Lifecycle. E.g., it is possible to automatically release parts and documents upon successful termination of an Ad Hoc Workflow. Ad Hoc Workflows are available with the upcoming version 2.9.8 for all CIM DATABASE server platforms.
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