English
Introduction
With DAM, organisations can easily manage large volumes of content, significantly improving the efficiency of marketing and creative teams, as well as other departments.
DAM is not just a place to store files. It's also advanced metadata management that enables fast searching, file versioning and access control, which is especially important for external and internal collaboration.
You need a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system when your organisation faces the challenge of managing large volumes of digital assets such as photos, videos, graphics, documents and other multimedia files.
The main functions of a Digital Asset Management support system are:
- Centralise and organise digital assets (images, videos, documents).
- Manage versions, metadata and usage rights of resources.
- Share resources across channels and teams.
What are the digital asset management challenges facing every manufacturing company?
In the manufacturing industry, digital asset management (DAM) systems play a key role in managing technical documentation, such as product specifications, engineering drawings, certificates of conformity, declarations of performance or technical and commissioning documentation. By centralising these resources, DAM facilitates access, ensures up-to-date versions and minimises the risk of production errors. The systems also support research and development processes, enabling better organisation of materials and effective collaboration between departments.
DAM also supports the management of marketing materials, such as product images and videos, which are key to promotion and sales. With this system, companies can maintain consistency of communication and quickly provide up-to-date marketing materials. DAM can also be integrated with other systems used in production, streamlining processes and helping to automate activities.
In addition, DAM systems help manage compliance with regulations and legal requirements by storing and providing the necessary certificates and reports. This makes it easier for companies to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, which is crucial for ensuring product quality and safety and for audit processes.
How can a DAM system help manufacturing companies?
Technical document management:
Centralising documents: In the manufacturing industry, there is a huge amount of technical documentation, such as product specifications, technical drawings, schematics, operating instructions, and certification documents. The DAM system centralises these resources, allowing them to be easily accessed and managed from a single location.
Documentation versioning: Products and manufacturing processes frequently undergo changes and updates. DAM enables version tracking of documents, ensuring that all teams are working with up-to-date data, minimising the risk of production errors resulting from the use of outdated specifications.
Support for R&D (Research & Development) processes:
Organisation of research materials: DAM facilitates the organisation and access to research materials, prototypes, test results and other resources related to new product development. This enables R&D teams to innovate faster and manage the product life cycle more effectively.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: the DAM system supports collaboration between different departments, such as design, production and marketing, enabling information and resources to be shared quickly throughout the product development process.
Optimising the management of marketing materials:
Management of product images and videos: In the manufacturing industry, DAM supports the management of marketing materials, such as product images and videos, which are used in catalogues, websites, advertising campaigns and promotional materials.
Consistency of communication: The DAM system ensures that all marketing materials are consistent and in line with current brand standards, which is key to maintaining a professional image and communicating effectively with customers.
Support for manufacturing and logistics processes:
Visual Asset Management: DAM enables the management of visual resources such as photos and videos of production processes, which can be used for training, quality control and documentation of production processes.
Process automation: The DAM system can be integrated with other systems used in production, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), enabling the automation and streamlining of many processes related to production data management.
Regulatory compliance management:
Certificate storage and access: DAM enables secure storage and easy access to compliance certificates, test reports and other documents required to meet legal and regulatory requirements in the manufacturing industry.
Tracking and auditing: The DAM system supports audit processes, enabling accurate tracking and documentation of all changes and management of documents required for audits and regulatory compliance reviews.
Supporting sustainability:
Environmental documentation management: Sustainability measures are becoming increasingly important in the manufacturing industry. DAM helps manage environmental documentation, sustainability reports and certifications, supporting environmental and corporate social responsibility activities.
PIM vs DAM
When PIM is sufficient:
- Main resources are structured data (e.g. product attributes, prices, descriptions).
- Little or no need for advanced multimedia resource management.
- Need to centralise product data without advanced need for multimedia file management.
- The role of DAM is fulfilled by a well-structured shared file server, CDN or similar solution.
When you should consider implementing DAM:
- A large amount of digital assets (images, video, documents) becomes difficult to manage and the time spent on finding, replacing and delivering to channels the expected version of a file is noticeably painful for the organisation.
- Digital assets are not only product images and videos, but all kinds of specifications, certificates, technical sheets, declarations of characteristics, etc.
- Ensuring control of the creation and publication process is regulated by law.
- The need for advanced management of metadata, usage rights, resource versioning and distribution.
Summary
DAM systems in the manufacturing industry support the organisation, availability and security of key digital assets, leading to increased operational efficiency, reduced risk of error and faster time to market. This enables manufacturing companies to better manage their assets, increase innovation and gain competitive advantage.
Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems play a key role in the management of digital assets in manufacturing organisations, providing advanced capabilities such as centralisation of technical documentation, file versioning and access control. With DAM, companies can efficiently organise and share key materials to support production processes as well as R&D and marketing activities. The systems also facilitate regulatory compliance management and support sustainability. As a result, DAM significantly increases operational efficiency, reduces the risk of errors and speeds time-to-market, giving companies a competitive advantage.
Our customers' DAM implementation stories
Central Product HUB for Ceramika Paradyż
Central HUB for product showcase and online sales process for leading manufacturer of ceramic tiles
Customer: Ceramika Paradyż
PIM system with Digital Commerce module to sell customizable products in a personalized way.
PIM system with Digital Commerce module to sell customizable products in a personalized way.
Customer: HOLZPILOTEN GmbH
Are you interested in this article? Check out others on similar topics.
5 principles of good product information management.
The core principles of a solid data management strategy that will help control costs, minimize risks and improve business performance.
Looking for solutions for your business?
We are experienced experts and consultants in the digital transformation of the areas of data management, sales using AI.
Martin Broda
+48 723 395 567