The first version of WebSuite dates back to 1999, when it was implemented in an SAP environment. Later, by merging our first customer’s different SAP systems, the need arose to create a new solution which is integrated with the changed environment but does not depend on it any more. This version of WebSuite was written under a Java environment but remained compatible with SAP as it kept the supported document formats. The Java-based WebSuite is a web application running on a central server, and can serve an unlimited number of clients.

WebSuite is an important tool in managing the manufacturing quality control processes and performing the related document management functions. It supports spot quality checks during manufacturing and its documentation: it shows the measurement parameters defined by the various standards for the selected product in a tabulated format, it displays the appropriate method and ID of measurements in a figure, and it provides tools to enter the data. This is followed by the evaluation phase, where the person responsible (defined in the process) can review measurement results and the value ranges defined in the standards in an extended table, based upon which they can decide whether to approve, reject, or repeat the measurement.

WebSuite can also be used to manage manufacturing-related (e.g., measurement evaluation records and technical drawings) or other company-related documents. Document here refers to two things: on the one hand, it refers to a logical ‘document’ object created within the system; on the other, it refers to the related physical object (e.g., a .DOC or an image file). The logical object also contains descriptive data (identification data for the document; document type, creator, supervisor, and approver; document status, e.g., active, archived, marked for deletion, or deleted; etc.); the attached file, which can be stored in the SAP Content Server, is the actual document.
To ensure the interoperability and compatibility with other (SAP) systems within your company groups, the logical document has preserved its earlier format used under SAP, so it is possible to exchange documents with external SAP systems.

The solution also has various built-in reporting and search capabilities. Statistics on the measurements performed can be retrieved in PDF format (e.g., data of the individual measurements, measurement types by period, etc.). Using the search function, you can define whether you are looking for measurements or evaluations and whether you want to display pending or closed tasks. Within document management, it is possible to search for documents by type, creator, date, and ID, among others.

Similarly to SAP, access rights management is role-based. Users perform designated roles, and rights are assigned to the role, rather than the user. You can set, for example, what operations a user of a given role can perform for a given document type (open, view, print, etc.).

Among others, the solution has been used successfully at the Hódmezővásárhely manufacturing plant of Villeroy&Boch Hungary, Co., and it has been extended to include their plant in Romania as well.