IDEAL Systems & Scanners, Inc., has successfully integrated the IntraNETIXTM solution at United Defense, LP – Ground Systems Division (UDLP-GSD). UDLP-GSD is one of the nation’s leading military vehicle contractors.
IDEAL’s IntraNETIXTM solution is a web-based archive management system for document acquisition and distribution that satisfied the UDLP-GSD requirement for a system providing company wide access to their engineering documents with Internet functionality and browser based tools. Requirements were straightforward:
- Build and maintain an active database of document links and attribute information; such as document number, sheet number, revision, release date, group, vendor and customer information.
- Web enable the database as a search engine to display the links with tabular results of attribute information.
- Add a web viewer along with a shopping cart feature for batch printing to local network printers and centralized high-speed KIP production plotters.
UDLP-GSD uses a high speed Wide Area Network (WAN) to link their three main facilities located in York, Pennsylvania, San Jose, California, and Aiken, South Carolina. Over the years, they acquired some of the best parts design, configuration management, database and networking tools. For example, UDLP-GSD uses powerful CAD systems, including Pro/E, ComputerVision, Unigraphics Solutions, and AutoCAD. UDLP-GSD stores many of their drawings in their Oracle-based Optegra Electronic Document Vaults that they actively use in San Jose and York, while they store other drawings on UNIX and PC servers. Their varying platforms, files formats, and array of directory locations presented challenges for their staff. They needed to determine how to find and distribute released drawings from all of these systems.
“IDEAL’s IntraNETIXTM solution has a link and view feature that puts viewers over CAD vault applications so that you can move them around as needed,” said Richard Morris, Configuration Manager with UDLP-GSD. “This is important due to ever changing business requirements.” IDEAL customized the configuration over a several month period and provided additional development to deliver UDLP-GSD more features and went the extra mile to provide automated updating within WAN.
Presently, all UDLP-GSD released drawings are available online via their EDVS. About 400 company users can access these documents using their web browsers, even at the factory shop floor. They are able to view CAD drawings and scanned images, collect images in a User Set, similar to a web shopping cart, batch print the contents of the User Set to a network printer if needed. IntraNETIXTM tracks their usage, and administrators can assign allowances for viewing, downloading, and printing. An online User Authorization Request form activates users.
For additional information about the IntraNETIXTM solution at UDLP-GSD, contact Peter Hbert at phebert@ideal.com or (301) 468-0123 ext. 1239.
