COLD

CIM (Computer Indexed Microfiche)

West-Net Systems offers a full range of micrographics services with specialist interest in Computer indexed microfiche systems. Documents of all sizes up to A0 can be filmed onto microfiche and computer indexed. 

Computer indexing the microfilmed documents provides benefits beyond the obvious. Documents to be microfilmed do not require any specific structure (i.e. be in numeric sequence). This eliminates the need for any up front sorting and therefore labour savings can be significant here. In a similar vein sequenced documents are frequently held up for extended periods awaiting the few missing documents to complete the sequence. 

Computer indexing allows for searches by more than one parameter, whereas sequenced documents allows for searches only by the sequence used. West-Net has the experience to assist the customer to gain the maximum economies and benefits from the use of microfilm. 

Microfilm in its many forms has long been the most favoured way to alleviate office space when space for document storage has run out. In this role microfilm can save up to 92% of space. Another traditional role for microfilm is the provision of file security. The information contained in the office records are frequently undervalued, often taken for granted. We only become aware of its real value when its too late - after the documentation has been destroyed by fire or water damage. Microfilm provides absolute insurance against this feared occurrence and at minimal cost when compared with the rewards. 

In these days of electronic wizardry automating the office, to levels beyond the average persons comprehension, the role of microfilm appears to many to be a past technology. This is far from reality. In fact microfilm has a more functional role now than in its 60-year history. The new digital records management systems still use microfilm as the main secondary and tertiary information storage medium. The role for the digital image is during the active working life of the documents (the first twelve months). Microfilm has rarely filled this role. Microfilm is still and will for the foreseeable future be the prime archiving medium for office documentation.

Colour Microfilming