ISO 9000 Software for Procedure writing, tracking, review, and NCR/CA/PA tracking

Good day to all!!

I recently received a CD from a company that makes software for procedure writing/tracking/review, and also for NCR/CA/PA tracking.
It looks like it would work very well, and claims to be able to bring us in compliance with ISO 9000/2000. It is, on the downside, quite expensive.

My question is this:
How many people out there are working with this type of software, and how well does it work. Also, which systems are you using (if we may). Cost is an issue, because we are a small company, and most of what we do is related to the currently depressed oil & gas market.

Thanks in advance!
Kim

(Patiently waiting for Marc & Kevin)

[Kevin Mader]

Kim,

Software is a good idea, especially if you do not have much time to explore the option of creating your own programs (files). I bought software in the past to do just that, buy some time. I have found since then that the software will be least effective as it is not Y2K compliant, but I have have replaced these shelf items with my own creations in Microsoft Access (sorry Marc). The software I had before worked with old Access drivers built into the software provider's tailored format, which I found to be too limiting. But it did serve its purpose. The problem I found is that it isn't easily adaptable to the way your system may be working and as such, may make you rewrite the program that may cause you other issues. You should consider this while previewing (most companies allow you to preview the software before purchasing it) as it will help you to make a better decision. Hope this helps a bit.

Regards,

Kevin

Kevin,

We already have procedures and what not in place, but they are all done through MS Word and revisions can get rather messy. The whole point (to me) of getting the software would be to automate the revision tracking and the review process. The same would apply to the NCR/CA/PA process.

Understand that I would be the one writing/revising all the documents, and then having to deal with waiting for all the other entities to review/edit whichever areas they felt necessary. I already have one document out in the process, and it's been out there for over 4 months. Not the most efficient process in the world.

Also, the software would allow for task assigning and all the rest, while allowing us to attain compliance with ISO 9000/2000.

If there was other software out there that could do the same, without being quite so expensive, I might be able to talk these folks into it.


Anyone else??


Kim

[barb butrym]

what rev of word?
Office 97, and prior versions as well actually.. have revision control in them. It's in the tool menu.... I find that, with Access, to be more than enough...me too, Kevin, sorry Marc. I typically set up email review and electronic sign off. One stroke of the key board and you have your record, distribution and notifications.

[Roger Eastin]

Before I would write or purchase any software, I would be sure that your system for review and approval is a good one. A computer program won't solve problems with a bad system. If the problem with your review and approval system is the fact that your reviewers and approvers aren't available to review and approve, a piece of software won't solve that. We learned that the hard way! Waiting months for review and approval is a system problem, not a software problem. Check that out first. If that is OK, then I agree with Kevin and Barb: write your own stuff. Chances are that you can customize it easier than using a canned package. Perhaps Kevin and Barb could send you their programs that you can use as a template in writing your own. We have been using Word and Excel for our electronic documents and this has worked out fine (for us).

[Don Winton]

Personally, I do not use canned stuff at all. I like to taylor mine to the particular operation involved. Like those above, I write my own tracking stuff in Access (I have also written a HUGE Access application for our company to track and maintain customers. Pretty neat, if I do say so myself, HeHe).

BTW, clicking on the 'Custom' tab in Properties dialog box accessed under the File menu brings up a lot of good stuff for document status (revision, revised by, received by, etc). Check that out as well.

Regards,
Don

ps: BTW, I would be wary of software that offered ISO 9000/2000 compliance when the final version of the standard is still a yer and a half away. Just a thought.
------------------
Just the ramblings of an Old Wizard Warrior.

[This message has been edited by Don Winton (edited May 05, 1999).]

[Kevin Mader]

Don,

I would be interested to hear more about your Customer Tracking Access DB. I have something myself (in its infancy) but does a good job of measuring Off Quality/Customer Account Activity (RAs and the like). I'll post you when I get a chance.

Regards,

Kevin

Hey folks!

I'm not familiar with MS Access, but we have it here and I'm checking it out. I'm not sure that it is what I'm looking for, but what the heck....

Keep the ideas coming!!

Kim