Christa Prokos
Version control and automated data management are crucial for accurate product design, tracking changes, saving versions, and enabling secure collaboration. Learn more about how the built-in data management capabilities in Fusion address your product design and manufacturing needs.
In the world of product development and manufacturing, maintaining accuracy and consistency in design is critical to success. Version control has become an essential data management practice for ensuring that product designs are precise and up-to-date throughout the entire development process.
What is version control?
Version control, also known as change control, is a data management method to keep track of changes to files, designs, and documents. , Changes are tracked, showing who changed what and when, allowing multiple people to work on the same files without overwriting each other’s work. It also manages the history of changes, so you can go back to an earlier version if needed, while also providing a record of all changes for visibility and compliance purposes. Version control makes managing files easier, faster, and more secure.
Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion
Version control in Autodesk Fusion: A more modern approach
Autodesk Fusion is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB tool with built-in PDM. It offers comprehensive product data management capabilities that facilitate change management, ensuring that designs are both accurate and consistent. Fusion provides a more modern approach to version control. Every change is captured in time in the history of the file, but such changes (file save or a property edit) are captured as a time-stamp. Versions are created only by an explicit command: Create Version. This allows users not to get bogged down in version overload just because they want to save their work. Instead, a “version” is a meaningful, named milestone. Let’s take a further look at how Fusion data management can help your organization with change management:
Centralized data storage
Fusion’s cloud-based platform offers centralized data storage, meaning all design data is stored in a single, secure location. This eliminates the risk of losing files or working with outdated versions. Every team member has access to the most current design, promoting consistency and accuracy.
Change history and tracking
By providing accountability and transparency, team members can track who made changes, what changes were made, and when they were made. If a mistake is identified, users can easily revert to a previous design, minimizing the impact of errors.
Collaborative environment
Fusion boosts collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on the same design concurrently. Real-time collaboration means that changes are instantly visible to all team members, reducing the likelihood of conflicts or duplicated efforts. Collaborative tools such as comments and markups further enhance communication, making it easier to discuss changes and improvements.
Access control and permissions
Fusion allows administrators to set permissions and access controls so that only authorized personnel can make changes to critical design files. This reduces the risk of unauthorized modifications and helps maintain the integrity of the design.
Automated management
Automated change control, backup, and retrieval processes mean that users can focus on their work without worrying about manual file management. It also reduces the risk of human error, which can compromise the accuracy of the design.
Scalability
Fusion’s scalable data management capabilities mean that it can handle large projects with multiple users and extensive change histories. Whether working on a small prototype or a large-scale production, Fusion can accommodate the needs of the project.
Real-time notifications
Fusion keeps users informed with real-time notifications about changes and updates to design files. Team members are made aware of modifications as they happen, reducing the likelihood of working on outdated versions. Real-time updates facilitate timely decision-making and enhance overall project efficiency.
Enhanced security
Fusion offers enhanced security features, including encryption, secure access, and regular backups. These security measures protect design files from unauthorized access and data loss. Rest assured, version control processes are reliable and secure.
Change control is a must-have for maintaining accuracy and consistency in product design, and built-in change control is even better. Fusion’s comprehensive product data management capabilities provide a solid foundation for effective change control. Centralized data storage, robust change tracking, collaborative tools, access control, automated management, seamless integration, detailed documentation, scalability, real-time notifications, and enhanced security all contribute to making Fusion a powerful tool for ensuring that product designs are precise and consistent.