WebIMS
WebIMS is a centralized electronic project management system designed to simplify project workflow and improve efficiency. The improvement of workflow and communications will eliminate unnecessary delays and expense, ensuring the right information reaches the right person on time. Designed to provide a common "Virtual Workspace" for all project team members, regardless of their actual physical location, WebIMS is extremely cost effective for the vessel owner, PWGSC, and the contractor. WebIMS allows all team members to manage all aspects of the project including the sharing and accessing of documents, work schedules, and any information required to prepare for, undertake, and complete a given project.
WebIMS provides several inherent collaboration features that can facilitate multiple users working on the same project. These include:
- Calendars and project event managers;
- Shared contacts lists;
- Document check-in/check-out feature;
- Automatic e-mail notification of system updates, changes and events to key project personnel and stakeholders as configured by the project administrator;
- Correspondence management at the user level; and
- Shared file & document libraries.
The logic of the PWGSC workflow has been written into WebIMS thereby allowing the system to direct information to the needed resources.
In addition to the workflow engine, the system is able to capture all aspects of the project documentation, ensuring that all parties involved are working from the same master set of files.
Each project within WebIMS has its own set of documentation, with security applied as required to the different areas within the project. Only authorized individuals may access the various areas of the system. Within a project section, the system is set up with folders familiar to the user, thus reducing the timeframe required to become proficient with WebIMS. From within the common document libraries the user can store any electronic documents which are required for a project such as an engineering photo set.
Within the WebIMS system important information has been predefined. From the 1379 summary screen the user is quickly able to see all pending and approved 1379s and the values associated with them. Simply clicking on any 1379 will take the user to that 1379 and allow them to view and edit it as required and as authorized. Navigation within the WebIMS system will never take more three mouse clicks.
Within a 1379 or any other electronic form, the user can, with the click of the mouse, view the form and its history. Any form may have any file attached to it, ensuring that critical documents, such as an additional specification for a 1379, are not separated from the form. Once the user signs the form it becomes locked and can no longer be edited by anyone. Every time a form is reopened, the system runs a data integrity check on the form. If any anomalies are found, the system will advise the user on the screen and also alert the system administrator.
The user is able to easily edit the forms from within any web browser. Having a zero install footprint ensure that the widest range of computer systems, including Windows, Mac and Linux, will all work with WebIMS. There are additional plug-ins that are required to work with WebIMS and no critical point Javascript.
This means that besides WebIMS working on any operating system, it will also work with almost any web browser and within almost any security environment.
Additional information can also be viewed by users such as a more detailed view of the Costing Section. This area allows customers and PWGSC personnel to see, in real time, the approved project expenditures to date. As well, they can see the pending work and the overall financial impact of this on the project budget.
Key proprietary information for customers, PWGSC and contractors is protected by multilayered security levels. The system rechecks a user's security level and access each time he/she calls up a section within WebIMS. Additional flags such as "contractor" will override all other security protocols to block access to restricted areas. This prevents the wrong user from accessing proprietary information.