All,

My company will soon be looking at new Quality Management Software. Right now we have different aspects of the Quality System in different software packages (many are still using word or excel). We would like to find a software package that can handle as many of the different processes as possible in an easy to use and integrated manner.

Examples of the processes would be customer complaints, internal audits, supplier qualifications, supplier audits, CAPA system, Training Records, etc.

Any software you have experience with and your overall impressions would help direct our search.

Thanks,
CZ

I think you will find a lot of information in the similar threads at the bottom of the page, as well as doing a search. This topic has been discussed quite a bit here.

But, I will recommend my favorite software: MQ1 from Cebos. It is well integrated and information can be linked from area to area very easily. Also, custom report writing is a breeze, especially compared to those that require Crystal Reports.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't even think to search for this as I was searching for another topic.

I did a quick search and found this list of possibilities:
MQ1
TrackWise
Quality Workbench
MentorsoftPRO
Master Control
Agile PDM

If anybody would like to add to this list, or give experience and impressions from actually using any of the above software, please feel free to share. Otherwise we will continue to investigate these possibilities.

Thanks,
Casey

There is also IQS. Not one of my preferred ones - but out there...

We recently were shown a system called etq Reliance. If it does everything it says on the tin I'm very impressed.

Other companies in the group use it & they're very happy with it.

The biggest advantage I saw over other packages was that you can customise the workflows - you aren't constrained to one particular method- the exa\mple I used was the difference between an 8D problem solving approach compared to a DMAIC method.

We've had IQS and are very happy with it.
I guess it would depend on the kind of work you do and your expectations.

IQS is VERY integrated, linking all kinds of items from one module to another.

Hi,

Just to say it upfront, I work for The Harrington Group.

We manufacture quality management software. If you would like, I would be happy to provide you with some more information about our offerings. Feel free to pm me or email me directly.

Thank you for your time, I hope you are able to find something that works for you and I hope I could be of help.

Regards,
Larry NeJame

We've had IQS and are very happy with it.
I guess it would depend on the kind of work you do and your expectations.

IQS is VERY integrated, linking all kinds of items from one module to another.

We have some other software systems (both for current quality functions as well as manufacturing functions) that are really integrated as well, but we are not using all of the functionality, so we are loosing some of the benefits.

Would you say the software is fairly intuitive and easy to use? Also does it integrate with your ERP system? (If so, which ERP system do you use?).

We just implemented SAP and it was a challange for everybody to adopt it. (They were not very happy for a while, but are beginning to see the benefits.) So I am hoping this transition will be less abrasive. :)

Thanks,
Casey

I have found my work with MQ1 very intuitive - especially their built-in report writer. I think it has surpassed IQS in its intuitiveness and flexibility. I also think they have more responsive customer service. I have also used PlexOnline - which is more comprehensive than both IQS or MQ1 (includes accounting, time cards, purchasing and other business systems) BUT, it is not as flexible and is a very comprehensive implementation.

We would like to find a software package that can handle as many of the different processes as possible in an easy to use and integrated manner.

Examples of the processes would be customer complaints, internal audits, supplier qualifications, supplier audits, CAPA system, Training Records, etc.

I do urge you to get clear about what you want it to do and how, because systems differ. Depends, for example, on whether you want to integrate it with SAP (you have my sympathy there, by the way) or run completely standalone systems.

I'd have a look at Flowbiz www.flowbiz.com.au (www.flowbiz.com.au) - very interesting series of products available, smart design and great flexibility. And no, I have no connection with them.

because systems differ.

Very much so, all the recommendations in the world won't give you a complete answer to what you want the system to do.

I would get as many demonstrations as possible from real life examples if possible.

I've been fortunate enough at my previous firm, before purchasing a particular system, to see different choices in place at non competitors sites (ie not in our industry). Of course, these will have been carefully vetted by the vendor as to who they tell you to see, but it will give you an insight into how the system works.

Just remember the rose tinted glasses are always on before you actually buy the software.

Thanks for the input everybody. I was part of the implementation (& selection team) for SAP and it certainly was a different interaction before we decided to purchase it than after.

We certainly plan on looking at real applications of whatever software we choose, but I wanted to get a good list to start with and you have certainly helped with that.

Thanks,
Casey

I need help in order to comply with the AS9100 requirements of Selecting, Evaluating and Re-evaluating our supplier.

How do others handle this? Our system is WAY TO FAT:mg:

1st we Select by "Price and delivery" by sending a RFQ
The they are put on the ASL as provisional
Then we type a purchase order
Then we Evaluate the first two orders checking the Price and Deleivery they quote against the invoice we recieve.
If everything goes fine we take them off provisional status
Then we Monitor their Quality and Delivery using a excel spreadsheet that we have to fill in each time we palce an order and then when the order comes in we have to make sure it was delivered on time
Then we Compile the Data at the end of the month so we can Analyze it:biglaugh::lmao::biglaugh:

The process makes a lot of double entry work

We are a small shop---20 people total..one person in purchasing. The way we are monitoring this isn't working. Does anyone have an idea they will share?

Thanks

We have some other software systems (both for current quality functions as well as manufacturing functions) that are really integrated as well, but we are not using all of the functionality, so we are loosing some of the benefits.

Would you say the software is fairly intuitive and easy to use? Also does it integrate with your ERP system? (If so, which ERP system do you use?).



I can't speak to SAP, but our IQS implementation integrated well with our Oracle based MRP system. IQS claims to work as well or better with MS SQL.

It took a couple of iterations to get comfortable with their integration logic, but once you got that down it was pretty easy. They also supply a toolkit (software) to automatically update from the ERP?MRP at desired frequency.