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Digital Signatures for Engineering and Manufacturing Industry

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Engineers, project managers, and CIO’s know that today’s process for reviewing, approving, and archiving paper-based engineering documentation consumes a tremendous amount of time and money. As a result, electronic documents are increasingly used in multiple phases of the business process, from bidding and design through project completion.

However, all too often, when preparing to sign electronic documentation, an engineer prints a hard copy original, physically routes the original for signatures across multiple office locations, and then ships the document back to the project team to be scanned into a document management system. The scenario requires the organization to store and maintain both a signed paper-based copy as well as an unsigned electronic copy.

Applying a hand-written signature to printed electronic files extends project schedules and increases budgets. Additionally, the costs associated with archiving and auditing paper documentation significantly increase an organization's overhead.

A Digital Signature (standard electronic signatures) Solution for Engineering Organizations

CoSign® makes it easy to digitally sign documents and drawings by embedding the standard signature technology directly into mainstream business applications. CoSign produces a signature record for every signature it captures. This Portable Signature Format (CoSign PSF™) allows anyone to seamlessly verify and retain proof of identity, intent, and document integrity without costly, complicated, or proprietary software. CoSign keeps your business running smoothly by fully automating and quickly scaling processes at a low cost and with proper controls.

Selected Clients and Partners

Typical Uses of Digital Signatures in Engineering
What are Digital Signatures?
What is CoSign?
CoSign Business Benefits for Engineering Organizations
CoSign Features
CoSign's Engineering Customers Success Stories
Publications about Digital Signature Use in Engineering

Typical uses of Digital Signatures in Engineering

» Request for Proposal (RFP)
» Contracts and Agreements
» Record of Surveys
» Site Analysis Reports
» Bidding Process
» Application for Payment
» Engineering Drawings and Specifications
» Billing Invoices
» Submittal Processes
» Meeting Minutes

What are digital signatures?

Digital signatures (standard electronic signatures) take the concept of traditional paper-based signing and turn it into an electronic "fingerprint.” This "fingerprint,” or coded message, is unique to both the document and the signer and binds both of them together. The digital signature ensures the authenticity of the signer. Any changes made to the document after it is signed invalidate the signature, thereby protecting against signature forgery and information tampering. Digital signatures help organizations sustain signer authenticity, accountability, data integrity and non-repudiation of electronic documents and forms.

What is CoSign?

CoSign makes it easy to digitally sign documents and drawings by embedding the standard signature technology directly into mainstream business applications. CoSign produces a signature record for every signature it captures. This Portable Signature Format (CoSign PSF™) allows anyone to seamlessly verify and retain proof of identity, intent, and document integrity without costly, complicated, or proprietary software. CoSign keeps your business running smoothly by fully automating and quickly scaling processes at a low cost and with proper controls.

CoSign Business Benefits for Engineering Organizations

Accelerated Business. CoSign accelerates the pace of doing business electronically with customers, partners, and prospects by sharing quick, easy, and secure transactions and records between firms and across geographies. CoSign is convenient and handles high-volume transactions for any size business with ease. The CoSign PSF is based on industry standards and boasts technical compatibility with a broad set of applications to guarantee electronic signature records can be easily read and verified for decades.

Lower Costs. CoSign allows users to reduce costs associated with authorizing and signing documentation. It also reduces the costs and quality challenges associated with archiving, audits, and legal requirements. By reducing costs associated with traditional paper-based processes (i.e., paper, printing, ink, scanning, faxing, postage, and processing time), organizations realize a quick Return on Investment (ROI).

A Simple Click. CoSign makes it easy to sign, verify, and retain digital records because the digital signature standard is already built into applications like Microsoft® Word, Excel®, SharePoint®, Outlook®, Adobe® Reader®, Acrobat®, AutoCAD®, IBM Lotus®, Oracle UCM, and Lawson M3, among others. Because of this, CoSign users simply sign with one click using familiar applications.

No Vendor Lock-In. By using a standards-based digital signature technology, CoSign digital signatures transform signed documents into portable electronic records that are maintained in a non-proprietary format. This allows third-party document recipients to easily verify signatures in commonly used applications without costly, complicated, or proprietary software.

Document Integrity. CoSign seals documents digitally, verifying the document has not been altered after signing, providing proof of the signer's identity, intent, and document integrity over the life of the document record.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance. CoSign digital signatures enable organizations to comply with regulations worldwide, including: FDA Title 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, US E-Sign (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act), EU Directive for Electronic Signatures, and the EU’s VAT Directive.

CoSign Features

Graphical signatures - Before the document is sealed, CoSign will add the user’s graphical signature (wet-signature). This enables a smooth transition from “rational” signatures to an electronic system.

Multiple signatures - Allows for multiple digital signatures on the same document.

Batch (bulk) signing –With high throughput, CoSign can digitally sign millions of documents; making it an ideal solution for bulk signing needs such as eInvoicing & eArchiving.

Extensive 3rd party application support – Works with many standard applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat and many more.

Sign any document type – Using OmniSign you can add digital signatures to any document type; even a proprietary format. OmniSign will convert any document into a signed PDF file.

Synchronizes with standard user management systems – The CoSign digital signature solution will work within your existing infrastructure, and is easy to use and manage.

Scalability – Scalable from a few signers to several million users, and will work in your existing authentication environment.

CoSign's Engineering customers Success Stories

Digital Signature Solution from ARX Streamlines Engineering Processes at Braun Intertec

Digital Signature Software Facilitates Engineering Production and Logistics at Mailhot Industries

Digital Signatures Make Workflow Soar at Northwest Aerospace Technologies (NAT)

Electronic Signatures Drive Engineering Design Process at New Flyer

Publications about Digital Signature Use in Engineering

FIATECH Salutes Innovators in Capital Projects Industry (PDF)

Sign on the Digital Line (Cadalyst)

Speedy Signatures (Modern Steel Construction Magazine)

Digital signatures streamline engineering processes (CE News.com)

CoSign Digital Signatures Keep Your Engineering Operations Moving

Digital Signatures for Engineering

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