Records Management in Engineering Firms

Abstract

A records management program needs to be an essential tool for controlling records in any engineering firm. Once top management gives full support for such an undertaking, the responsibility of implementing and running such a program needs to be assigned to one person. The engineering firm needs to pick which components of a records management program—vital records, forms, files, retention schedules, information retrieval, and archiving—are best suited for its needs. Also, an engineering firm must place every type of record into its records management program: offices files, drawings, specifications, project files, shop drawings, and other items. After a records management manual is established, consideration needs to be given to where the records will be stored and to how they will be discarded. Computers are increasingly becoming more important in management of records. There are various organizations able to give assistance in records management; furthermore, consultants can be used. The future—especially due to technological advances—will provide better management control of records.