CalWorks by Norvada - Has anyone used CalWorks Calibration Software?

[merrick65]

We are thinking about purchasing this program and I would like to know if anyone has any past experiences with this software. We are a medium size calibration house and currently use in house developed calibration software. The big advantage I see for this software is that it is internet based and our tech's can access it from anywhere. Any feedback (+ or -) would be very helpful.

[harry]

Anybody with experience to share?

[BradM]

Merrick, I have not used this software before. Do you do any FDA work, where you would be concerned with electronic records/electronic signatures?

Have you been using Access or Excel? What is your motivation for moving to calibration software? Just curious.

[merrick65]

We do not do any FDA work but are a ISO17025 accredited calibration lab. We have been using Access for the database and a combination of excel and word for the certificates. We also are using a accounting software (Dba). We convert the certificates to a pdf and store on our website to give our customers online access to their cert's. Our thinking is that we could consolidate all the above listed programs and use just one. Also right now the service technicians have to daily email the cert's into the office and Access has to then be updated and the cert's posted to the website. This program would allow us to skip this step.

[Dale P]

We use it and like any software has good and bad.

Web based also provides the possibility of customer's being given access to viewing and printing their own certs.

[MSchwartz]

Most of the problems people have with off the shelf software is that it does not match their business mode. I recommend you see if you can get the manufacturer of the software to let you use a copy for a couple of months to test run the software. This is the best way to make sure you get what you need with an off the shelf solution.

Most of the software on the market we written for a company then the decided the rest of the world should do business they way they do. And you end up with software that may or may not work for your lab.

If you have looked at all the solutions on the market and none of them do exactly what you need it to do. Drop me a line. Let me know what they are not able to do that you need it to do. If I know of any solutions that will do what you need I will point you their way. (I have looked at just about everything on the market.)

From there you are into looking at a custom solution. That is my companies niche in the market.

Good Luck in your search / evaluation.