THE DEATH OF THE FILING CABINET

摘要

No matter how tradition-bound you may feel, when looking for a design document, either current or outdated, these days the best advice is: Boot up the computer. Managing engineering documents electronically enables all engineers to be on the same page, literally. Not only does electronic document management function as an on-line library complete with checkout rights, but it also allows engineering firms to maintain archival records of older designs and the engineering thought behind them. Mandar Rege, senior director at management company Alvarez and Marsal of New York has glimpsed both the business and legal benefits to be gained by electronic document management. The electronic tools are also useful for archival retention, Rege said. Organizing engineering data is vital for archival, regulatory, and legal purposes, said David Kessler, a partner in the intellectual property practice group at Drinker Biddle, a Philadelphia law firm.