Collaborative workflow comes up to date

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 15, 2008

Framework allows geographically separated engineering teams to establish seamless exchange of content and global workflow to enable global engineering processes.

Available now from BlueCielo ECM Solutions, InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework 2008 is the latest version of the InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise module that enables exchange of content and collaborative workflow between geographically dispersed engineering teams.

The InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework allows geographically separated engineering teams to establish seamless exchange of content and global workflow to enable global engineering processes, while at the same time retaining their own local working environments and processes in InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise.

The InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework can also be used to collaborate with external engineering teams, streamlining outsourcing processes.

The engineering content exchanged can vary from Microsoft Office documents to 2D CAD drawings and 3D CAD assemblies.

Metadata and references are exchanged together with the engineering content, preserving essential relations between individual files.

Built-in and customisable rules make it possible to preserve consistency between files, assemblies, vaults and sites.

The main enhancement in this release of InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework is the capability to set up global workflows for engineering processes such as design, review and approval.

With the InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework, global organisations can enjoy benefits such as the automated exchange of engineering content, shorter turnaround times, improved reliability, better protection of intellectual property, time efficiency and cost reduction.

The InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework works in conjunction with BlueCielo's flagship ECM solution InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise - a robust, highly scalable engineering content management solution used in multiple vertical markets worldwide by companies such as Bluewater, EDF Energy, Entergy Nuclear, ExxonMobil, Finnish Rail, the Franke Group, Hewlett Packard, Huntsman, Met-Mex Penoles, Petrobras, Pfiser, RWE, Shell and many more.

Several new features are available for the first time in InnoCielo Global Collaboration Framework (GCF) 2008.

Advanced document workflow (ADWF) is the versatile and fully configurable workflow feature introduced in InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise 2007.

During a workflow, the ADWF state can now be synchronised to the collaborating vaults.

This enables configuring global workflows for engineering processes such as design, review and approval.

A remote command queue allows for commands to be executed in remote vaults without the need for an active online connection.

The command queue can be used in combination with script to implement complex cross-site document management processes.

When a document is renamed in the vault that currently owns it, the new name can be replicated to the collaborating vaults.

The export of updates to remote vaults has been greatly optimised.

For specific situations, this process is now up to 20 times faster, making it practical to schedule background updates multiple times per day.

In GCF 2008, uploading of BriefCase files to the destination server through FTP is now supported.

Configuring transfers through HTTP is now integrated with InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise Web Access, making it easier to configure and maintain.

The single document workflow (SDWF) is the deprecated workflow feature from older versions of InnoCielo Meridian Enterprise.

During a workflow, the SDWF state can now be synchronised to the collaborating vaults.

This also enables configuring global workflows for engineering processes.

Building on the introduction of general support for work areas in GCF 2.0, GCF 2008 now supports scenarios where all changes to documents are made in a work area before release to the main area.

GCF 2008 will replicate the released documents to the main areas of the collaborating vaults.