WITTE Automotive Implements Test-Data Management System with CIM DATABASE

Seamless test documentation incorporates full-text search and report generation  

Bremen, December 3, 2008 – WITTE Automotive, global systems supplier of automotive access systems, has implemented a company-wide test-data database with CIM DATABASE that has now transitioned into full service. It is based on the Project Management System of the PDM/PLM platform and enables the group to optimally comply with OEM customer and legal documentary requirements. This new solution replicates the complete testing cycle – beginning with planning and set-up through to execution and resultant data analysis – in a seamlessly documented manner, related to the project. The structured data repository and a powerful full-text search engine warrant a concise overview and fast search results. CIM DATABASE’s access rights and workflow management system monitors both retrieval and modification of documents and warrants their validity.

In the course of a design project, WITTE Automotive tests products in regards to safety, endurance and functionality. The high quality demands are met by extensive testing cycles; e.g. a lock must still perfectly perform even after years of service and in all weather conditions.

A key element of all tests is the relevant test-trial-plan and its allocated itemized tests and test criteria, accompanying documents and accrued data. Now, all pre-defined test information may be indefinitely retrieved via an on-demand generated test-trial-plan. Furthermore, the test project structure easily allows the generation of a compact electronic reports folder (Multi-PDF) containing all related test documentation (office documents). Information access is monitored by CIM DATABASE’s project-specific access rights profile and a specified workflow, preventing, amongst other issues, a later modification of released and audit-bound documents.

Markus Schaffrick, head of IT Applications Management and therefore also responsible for the PDM/PLM environment within WITTE, is already highly satisfied with the intermediate results stemming from the ramp-up phase of the implemented solution. Utilization of a unified, clearly structured test-data database for documentary purposes results in obvious time and cost advantages for WITTE Automotive. Christof Köster, head of the testing department explains: „We can comply with our legal and customer’s document auditing requirements involving much less time and effort than before and plan to further utilize the possibilities of CIM DATABASE in the future“. It is planned to extend the new application in such a way, that it can be used to generate automated summary reports according to choice testing criteria.