Classification and content management systems vital for manufacturing’s ‘e’ future

‘Content management’ is increasingly being recognised as essential to the overall enterprise software infrastructure stack, alongside enterprise portals, e-business systems and enterprise management (ERP) suites. In fact, it is set to grow to $7.2 billion by 2006, according to a new report from Butler Group, ‘Content Management – Getting to Grips with the Information Explosion’. But content management, hinging as it does on classification systems, is a bit of a minefield. As Tim Jennings, research production director for Butler Group, says: “Content management systems exhibit a wide divergence between the capabilities of different vendors’ solutions, reflecting both the immaturity of the market – and the differing backgrounds of the participants.” On the systems provision side, he says: “The larger software vendors, such as IBM and Microsoft, have been manoeuvring to establish their position through acquisitions and strategic alliances, while the market is currently led by Broadvision, Divine, Documentum, FileNET, Interwoven, Stellent and Vignette.” And on the document and knowledge management side that’s true. But when it comes to the business of component classification and content provision, it’s a different story. Leaders there include Reqio, CatalogA, Saqqara, TSI Powerdata, i2 and our own Findlay Publications (FCS) aimed specifically at the needs of UK engineering and manufacturing. Actual engineering component content and classification is variable in most cases, particularly when it comes to manufacturing industry’s deep requirements – you tend to get one or the other from most. Further, classification standards are patchy – currently being attempted by, for example, UN/SPSC but without adequate attribute depth for many in industry. The real power of Findlay’s FCS comes from its database of suppliers attached to its classification system – around 12,000 UK companies in all. Peter Knutton, Findlay’s project director FCS, says: “By normalising all data and content to a standard FCS classification, all the suppliers’ product data can be compared and stored like-for-like. “Information retrieval is very fast using classification key words, but most important is that users can find and view data and information classified as they would expect to see in their sector. And search results find all relevant content irrespective of how it was originally described and classified using our Classification Definer tool.” Beyond that, the FCS’ Classification Definer tool allows users to assign multiple descriptions for each part in the classification hierarchy to suit different markets and user preference. Butler notes that as the amount of digital content continues to proliferate, with unstructured content like emails, images and documents, some form of content management system is becoming increasingly essential. “Properly managed content should be viewed as a competitive weapon – allowing companies to create more compelling information services, to connect to suppliers and partners, and to find new market places for their products and services,” says Jennings. “Without the ability to organise this content, the information contained within it is lost and a valuable asset is wasted.” Butler’s report identifies five fundamental components for a content management system. First is centralised management, which is important in enabling organisations to keep content available, up to date and relevant. Second is separating content from presentation which puts paid to the electronic publishing bottleneck. Third is workflow; fourth the ability to share and reuse content; and fifth, the ability to deliver content in multiple formats and to different devices.