About Electronic Signatures

The Electronic Signature option provides a highly secure environment by requiring that operators electronically "sign" for all database process changes resulting from data entry. Electronic signatures uniquely identify the user making the change and can optionally require the electronic signature of another person to verify the change. Electronic signatures are the computer-generated, legally binding equivalents of handwritten signatures. They uniquely identify the person(s) responsible for an action.

An electronic record is generated each time an action is signed for. Electronic records consist of the name of the person(s) involved in the signing process, and other details, such as the type of action performed. Electronic records are written to the ESignature table in the Plant Applications database and retained as a permanent record of a signed action.

Depending on how your displays are configured, a signed action may require a supervisor or an operator to verify or validate the action performed by an operator. The concepts of Performer and Verifier provide the foundation of understanding how electronic signatures work in Plant Applications.

In Plant Applications Administrator, an autolog variable can be configured for an electronic signature in two levels: Level-1 requires only a Performer signature and Level-2 requires both the Performer and a Verifier signature.
  • Level-1:: Requires only the Performer signature. The performer that initiated the action must electronically sign for that action.
  • Level-2:: Requires both the Performer and a Verifier signature. The performer that initiated the action must electronically sign for that action and the verifier must electronically sign to validate the action. The action is not initiated until both signatures are entered. To require an approver signature, the approver must have a minimum of manager rights to a security group assigned to the display or, if no security group has been assigned to the display, the approver must have a minimum of manager rights to the Administrator security group.
A signature consists of two components that uniquely identify the signer: a username and a password. When the operator performs an action or verifies an action, a window appears in which the operator must enter these two identifiers:
  • Username: Name of the user performing the action or verifying the action.
  • Password: Password for the user performing the action or verifying the action.
Note:
  • Ensure that the performer and verifier has acess to the UAA server.
  • Ensure that there is no time skew between UAA server and Web client clocks.