2003-11-28
Introduction of the DocuCat information system for the entire product documentation at Unaxis Displays

Authors

Detlev Koch, Unaxis Balzers AG, Balzers (FL) 
Dr. Günter Ratz, CPTec GmbH, München (D) 

Unaxis is a globally active leading provider of production systems, components and services in the field of information technology. Unaxis' activities comprise the Information Technology segment (production systems for semiconductors, displays, data storage and optical components), Surface Technology, and Components and Special Systems. The "Unaxis Displays" division develops systems and thin film coating processes for making Flat Panel Displays used in laptops, televisions, mobile phones and PDAs.

After sales support

These are highly complex systems which require a high-quality after sales support in order to minimize the downtime. Prompt supply with spare parts and a high-quality and up-to-date documentation are essential for this. The documentation coming with a Unaxis Displays system comprises a spare parts catalog, circuit diagrams, various operating instructions, the entire OEM documentation and further documents such as conformity declarations etc. The printed paper version may contain several 1000 pages in the DIN A4 format and weigh up to 100 kg. The extent of the documentation already makes it difficult for service technicians and customers to find any required information quickly. At the same time, the logistic problem of keeping the system documentation up-to-date crops up.

Our goal

In order to improve this situation, the "Integrated Documentation" project was started in the fall of 2002. Our goal was to place the entire documentation of a system in a convenient manner (on CD or via Internet) at the disposal of Unaxis Displays service technicians and customers. Special attention should be paid to the linking of important information which is required again and again during maintenance and service work.

The project derived benefit from the fact that Unaxis has been shipping electronic versions of operating instructions and spare parts catalogs to a number of customers for several years. The required internal processes and the software had been developed by CPTec GmbH. To be consistent, the same company was hired in order to extend the existing spare parts catalog solution to an overall solution named "DocuCat".

continue with part 2: Data processing