We are active in mechanical engineering and are looking for software for recording and archiving test reports that our technicians can use internationally. We currently use software that we programmed ourselves, which needs to be replaced by a new solution. We would like to use a “ready-made” solution, if one is available.
The software must meet the following requirements:
General
- English version in addition to German (language and units can be switched)
- Access by the entire company group (international)
- Different rights assignment (administrator – full access including subsequent editing, user – create and read only)
- Reports should be created by technicians and forwarded for further processing via synchronization
- Technicians should be assigned to areas where the report appears for processing in the next step
- Approval process: the report is only accessible to everyone after approval
- Guided correction process (assign the respective persons for correction) (optional function)
- Automatic, sequential number assignment (different subsidiary -> different number range)
- Previous or older reports must be able to be opened and edited -> Support for the .vdb file format
- Editing or access by multiple people
- Display of the last change status to avoid mutual overwriting
- Reports must also be editable after they have been approved
- Offline report creation must be possible
- Print function including clear formatting (different copies: PDF, Word, Excel / internal, external / German, English, etc. / standard format, US format (units and date))
- Evaluations or data export to Excel
- Attaching files (PDFs, Word, Excel, image files)
- Search function for reports using specific criteria
- Export report or file and send by email
- Import report or file
- Create copy
- Capture different report types depending on the product
- Open multiple reports simultaneously
- Capture report in multiple “stages” (temporarily saved by the technician, but not yet completed or synchronized)
- Security prompt when exiting (save unsaved changes, etc.)
- Interfaces to SAP (machine data, customer data), MS Excel (evaluations) and existing DMS or ECM (transfer project data to report index data)
Text entry
- Bilingual text entry (switchable between German and English)
- Offline text entry must be possible
- Predefined text modules (optional function)
- Selection fields or fewer free text fields (optional function)
- Insert and assign images (not only at the end of the report but also assign them to different “text sections”)
- Arrange multiple images next to each other, below each other, or on the left, centered, or on the right
- Image descriptions or captions (bilingual)
- Optimal text processing (italics, bold, underlined, bullet points, numbering, undo)
- Distinction between internal and external information - internal appendix (possibly structured in relation to parts that need to be replaced or adapted later)
Test series
- Recording test series (values)
- Columnar display
- Copy (copy the contents of a column or row to several columns or rows)
- Automatic calculations - Store formulas in specific fields
- Default settings or general templates (predefined fields, units, etc.)
- Create your own templates
- Change fields later
- Delete rows and columns
- Add rows and columns (assign field names (row), define decimal places and units)
- Store formulas for newly inserted fields
- Define field types for new rows or fields (heading (bold), formula, date, number, text, time, yes/no, ratio, duration, etc.)
- Show or hide columns or rows
- Hide or interrupt individual test series in the customer copy, but still maintain consecutive numbering (optional function)
- Select which fields are ultimately to be printed
- Data export to Excel
- Enter text fields in two languages – e.g. specify selection fields and switch languages (optional function)
The software should be able to be used by approx. 200 employees.