European EDMS users struggle to implement systems

Companies in Europe have access to the same EDM and PDM technology as those in the USA, as well as to some indigenous suppliers. The main difference is that the cost to buy is relatively higher in Europe, and senior management is more conservative about buying. In the UK, the 1994 Manufacturing Attitudes Survey shows that cost reduction is still the prime objective for most companies, and that EDMS is poorly understood at the board level. When asked what EDMS meant, 77% of sites had no answer. Throughout Europe, most companies need EDMS and appreciate its benefits and there is a need for clear, independent definitions of the various technologies, and education about who can provide solutions and who has successfully implemented them.