Technical Document Metadata - Lifecycle Phase Revision 2 - Release Date 2014-12-10 - English

1. Document Overview

This document provides a detailed analysis of the metadata fields present in the provided PDF content. The core information revolves around the document's lifecycle management parameters, specifically its revision status, expiration policy, and release timestamp. Understanding these fields is crucial for technical documentation management, version control, and ensuring the use of the correct and current document version in engineering and manufacturing processes. The consistent repetition of the same data block suggests a structured, machine-readable format for document header or footer information, commonly found in automated document generation systems within technical and quality management frameworks.

2. In-Depth Technical Parameter Analysis

The provided content consists of a single, repeated data structure. A detailed, objective interpretation of each field is essential.

2.1 Lifecycle Phase

The field LifecyclePhase:Revision indicates the current state of the document within its controlled lifecycle. The value : 2 specifies that this document is identified as Revision 2. In technical documentation systems, a revision number tracks changes and updates. Revision control is fundamental for traceability, allowing users to identify which iteration of a document they are referencing. It helps prevent errors caused by using outdated specifications, procedures, or datasheets.

2.2 Expiration Period

The field Expired Period: Forever defines the validity duration of this document revision. The value Forever signifies that this specific revision does not have a predefined expiration date based on time. It will remain the active revision until it is explicitly superseded by a newer revision (e.g., Revision 3). This is common for foundational technical documents or specifications that are updated only when the product or process changes, rather than on a periodic schedule.

2.3 Release Date

The field Release Date:2014-12-10 09:54:58.0 provides the precise timestamp when Revision 2 was officially released and became the active document. The format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.S offers high granularity. This timestamp is critical for audit trails, change management, and establishing a chronological history of document updates. It allows users to verify if they are working with the most recent release.

3. Grading and Classification System

While the provided snippet does not contain product-specific grading (like wavelength or voltage bins), the metadata itself represents a classification system for document control. The Revision number acts as a primary grading key for document versions. The system ensures that only one revision (the highest numbered, currently active one) is to be used for production or design activities, preventing confusion among multiple drafts or obsolete versions.

4. Performance and Reliability Analysis

The metadata implies performance characteristics of the document management system itself. The use of a precise timestamp and a clear revision state indicates a system designed for reliability and auditability. The "Forever" expiration on a specific revision suggests a model where documents are stable until intentionally changed, promoting consistency in long-term projects. The repeated, structured format suggests automated generation and parsing, reducing human error in document handling.

5. Structural and Format Information

The data is presented in a simple key-value pair structure, separated by colons and spaces. The presence of special character blocks (represented by black squares in the text) likely indicates formatting codes or placeholders from the original document generation software that were not fully rendered as text. This is common in PDFs extracted from certain types of systems. The consistent structure across multiple lines suggests this metadata may appear on every page of the document (e.g., in a header or footer) to ensure identification on any printed or excerpted page.

6. Handling and Implementation Guidelines

6.1 Integration into Systems

When integrating such documents into a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Document Management System (DMS), the fields LifecyclePhase, Revision, and Release Date should be mapped to corresponding database fields. Automated workflows can be triggered based on the release of a new revision.

6.2 Verification and Compliance

Before using any technical document, personnel must verify the revision number and release date against a controlled master list or system to ensure compliance. Using an outdated revision can lead to non-conformance, quality issues, or safety risks.

6.3 Storage and Archival

While the current revision may have an "Forever" active period, all previous revisions should be archived in a read-only state with their metadata intact for historical reference and regulatory purposes.

7. Application and Usage Recommendations

This type of metadata is essential in highly regulated industries (aerospace, medical devices, automotive) and critical manufacturing processes. It is used in:

• Engineering Change Orders (ECOs): Linking a physical change to a document revision.
• Quality Audits: Providing evidence of controlled documentation.
• Training: Ensuring personnel are trained on the latest revision.
• Supplier Communication: Specifying exactly which revision of a drawing or specification must be used for production.

8. Technical Comparison and Context

Compared to informal documents without such metadata, controlled documents with clear lifecycle phases offer significant advantages: Traceability (knowing what changed and when), Accountability (linked to release authority), and Clarity (eliminating ambiguity about the correct version). The alternative—using filenames like "document_final_v2_new.pdf"—is error-prone and unmanageable at scale.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

9.1 What does "LifecyclePhase:Revision" mean?

It indicates the document is in the "Revision" stage of its lifecycle, as opposed to "Draft," "Review," or "Obsolete." The number after the colon is the specific revision identifier.

9.2 If the Expired Period is "Forever," does the document never change?

No. "Forever" applies to that specific revision's validity once released. The document as a whole can still be updated, resulting in a new revision (e.g., Revision 3) with its own release date. Revision 2 would then typically be archived.

9.3 Why is the release timestamp so precise (down to tenths of a second)?

Precision timestamps are valuable in high-volume document management systems to ensure a strict, unambiguous chronological order of releases, which is important for synchronization across distributed systems and for forensic audit trails.

10. Practical Use Case Scenario

Scenario: A manufacturing engineer needs to assemble a device. The work instruction document, referenced by its number, has this metadata: LifecyclePhase:Revision : 5, Expired Period: Forever, Release Date:2023-10-26 14:30:15.0.

Action: The engineer checks the factory's digital work instruction portal. The portal shows the latest released revision for that document is Revision 5, released on 2023-10-26. This matches the PDF. The engineer proceeds confidently, knowing they have the correct, released version. If the PDF showed Revision 4, they would discard it and obtain Revision 5 from the portal, thus avoiding a potential assembly error corrected between revs 4 and 5.

11. Underlying Principles

The principle at work is document control, a core element of quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001). It states that documents must be approved, identifiable, kept up-to-date, and available where needed. The metadata structure provides the mechanism for identifiability (revision number) and control (release date). The "Forever" expiration aligns with the principle that a document remains valid until explicitly changed, providing stability.

12. Industry Trends and Evolution

The trend is moving from simple revision numbers on paper to digitally signed, blockchain-verified document metadata for maximum integrity and non-repudiation. Integration with PLM and ERP systems is becoming seamless, allowing documents to be directly linked to parts, bills of materials, and process steps. Furthermore, there is a shift towards more granular lifecycle states beyond just "Revision," such as "In-Circulation," "Deprecated," or "Archived," providing richer context for automated workflows. The basic model shown here remains the foundational layer for these advanced systems.