Electronic Signatures

[BandH]

Hi all,

We would like to reduce the amount of paperwork (and the time spent photocopying etc.)in our office. Does anyone know of software that allows us to electronically sign off our drawings checked and approved? Is this possible in eDrawings? We are using SolidWorks 2006 Office Professional.

Thanking you in advance.

Bandh

 

[ctopher]

I have not tried it, but I heard it is possible. I work with government jobs and elect signatures are not allowed ... yet.

Chris
Systems Analyst
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[rich942]

I would very much like to hear from others, on this subject. I have found that the FDA has pioneered procedures for electronic sign-offs, and email circulation with e-signatures is the accepted practice. My employer is a major defense contractor, and has recently adopted a very disturbing policy of circulating a "sign-off sheet", then scanning the signatures into a bitmap, and pasting them into the drawing. To my mind, copying signatures from one document to another gives the appearance of forgery. The "signatures" on the drawing are clearly transferred from another sheet of paper ! Its a labor-intensive routine, with questionable results.
I have suggested a more traditional approach, using an ECO to release new drawings, until an e-signature procedure is put into place. Does anyone have another alternative ?

Thanks !

 

[BandH]

Has anyone any other feedback on this?

Thanks

 

[Standing]

We are not government and do not sell anything. We do not sign our drawings at all. We do need accountability of our drawings. We use the PDM to show accountability along with an ECN to release and change a drawing, which has signatures. I know this would not work for most. If we sold our drawings or parts it would not work for us either.

Bradley

 

[rich942]

For many years before the implementation of 2D CAD, drawings were effectively put through a traditional and universally accepted approval cycle, consisting of ECO forms, and signatures applied to the face of the drawing. Often, when the drawing was considered too valuable to be passed around for sign-off, the approval names would be printed in, and the ECO form signed. This protocol stood the test of time and many lawsuits ! In the absence of the adoption of an electronic signature process, I see no other alternative but to fall back on this. My intent in the original post was to find a method that does not give the appearance of forgery, such as signature images copied from one document to another. I hope to hear from more SW users, especially in the defense industry, about how they handle document approvals. Thanks for the replies so far !

 

[MElam]

A PDM system with integrated workflow will be able to do this. Just make sure the software meets compliance.

We are using DBWorks which is compliant with FDA, ISO9001, and our company laywers.