Are you using software for REACH?

R

RobCarl

#1
Hi all.

Pretty new here, as you can see. As I'm sure has happened to some of you, I have been tasked with setting up our REACH compliance program. Due to the nature of the regulations, it appears that some sort of tracking software is almost a necessity. I started out thinking that I could just build a simple db in MS Access as I did for RoHS. But the deeper I get, the more I relize that I may need something a little more thorough and user friendly (so that other can help me keep it up to date, etc.).

So I was wondering if any of you are using some of the REACH/Environmental compliance software that is out there, and what experiences you have had with them. I've tried the search, but it come up with anything useful. If I missed a thread on it, I'd much appreciate being opointed in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

So that you have some frame of reference, we are an Article manufacturer (in this case, stepper motors), with no registration requirements. So this is just for customer/supply chain reporting purposes and tracking. We are ISO9001 certified, but not to AS9100, ISO14001, or any other standard.
 
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J

Jonazzz

#2
Hi RobCarl,

Welcome to The Cove.
I've now been working as a consultant for almost 4 years on the implementation of a REACH Supply Chain Communication tool for one of the largest household appliance producers within Sweden.

Before we have developed our own in house tool, we have also screened different systems that are available on the market.

One way to figure out what is present is to look on the website of Chemical Watch (http://chemicalwatch.com). They have recently published a "Service Provider Guide" which you can order from their website, and gives you an overview of the different players on the market and their offer.

For sure there are some packages on the market, like BOMCheck (from Environ and Siemens), Element1, REACHSuite (Bay-Touch), SAP REACH, even Siemens Teamcenter does contain a compliancy module which you can have a as a stand alone application.

It is now up to you and your company to decide how much money and effort you want to spend on this topic.

One interesting thing in your post, was that you tried to start with an Access database.
Actually we did the same in the beginning. We have made extracts out of our ERP systems to obtain all the contents on the Bill of Material.
Than through some simple Excel file we have already obtained the necessary information from our suppliers.
So, this way of working has already a prooven record and could be very effective.
Due to the fact that in our company we are maintaining this information for 17 factories in Europe, it was decided to create an inhouse development for a web based platform.
Nevertheless, the story started with Access and Excel.
 

Kales Veggie

People: The Vital Few
#3
Hi all.

Pretty new here, as you can see. As I'm sure has happened to some of you, I have been tasked with setting up our REACH compliance program. Due to the nature of the regulations, it appears that some sort of tracking software is almost a necessity. I started out thinking that I could just build a simple db in MS Access as I did for RoHS. But the deeper I get, the more I relize that I may need something a little more thorough and user friendly (so that other can help me keep it up to date, etc.).

So I was wondering if any of you are using some of the REACH/Environmental compliance software that is out there, and what experiences you have had with them. I've tried the search, but it come up with anything useful. If I missed a thread on it, I'd much appreciate being opointed in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

So that you have some frame of reference, we are an Article manufacturer (in this case, stepper motors), with no registration requirements. So this is just for customer/supply chain reporting purposes and tracking. We are ISO9001 certified, but not to AS9100, ISO14001, or any other standard.
REACh and other regulations (RoHS recast, TSCA rewrite, California Green Chemistry, Japan Substance Control Law, and many more) is a complex issue, that can not be resolved with an Access database.

There is software available (Ipoint, a German company for example).

REACh makes the article manufacturer responsible for the supply chain, so becoming REACh compliant MUST include substance data collection from your suppliers.

Also your customers might specific requirements for certain substances.

Also do not forget that there are many environmental product regulations worldwide that can affect your product.

Moreover, the substance lists associated with these regulations are updated regularly, which means you must have a way to quickly determine if your product is still compliant.

Moreover, if certain substances will be banned (put on the authorization list in EU), you have to know this a few years before it takes effect, so that new materials can be selected and product validated before the sunset date comes.

It all comes down to managing risks. This is often translated into "no data, no market".
 
J

Jonazzz

#4
REACh and other regulations (RoHS recast, TSCA rewrite, California Green Chemistry, Japan Substance Control Law, and many more) is a complex issue, that can not be resolved with an Access database.

There is software available (Ipoint, a German company for example).
I think the answer of Kiles is a little too narrow.

Why would supplychain communication, data collection and even a calculation for your information obligations, as far as REACH goes, not be handled over an Access database?

When you take on the assumption that the data within the database would be static, than maybe yes. But creating a dynamic process, with the support of a dynamic access database is perfectly suitable in managing your obligations.

Please keep in mind that REACH is all about proving "due dilligence" to the legislation. Nothing more, nothing less.
And also there Access can be a good tool.

I'm not making the case here that everyone should start to put data in Access, just for the sake of having data.

Access would be just a tool to store data in the whole supplychain communication process.
 

Kales Veggie

People: The Vital Few
#5
I think the answer of Kiles is a little too narrow.

Why would supplychain communication, data collection and even a calculation for your information obligations, as far as REACH goes, not be handled over an Access database?

When you take on the assumption that the data within the database would be static, than maybe yes. But creating a dynamic process, with the support of a dynamic access database is perfectly suitable in managing your obligations.

Please keep in mind that REACH is all about proving "due dilligence" to the legislation. Nothing more, nothing less.
And also there Access can be a good tool.

I'm not making the case here that everyone should start to put data in Access, just for the sake of having data.

Access would be just a tool to store data in the whole supplychain communication process.
Collecting and verifying substance / material / article information from the supply chain is not an easy task. I do not believe a home grown Access can do the job. If you do, your company is taking huge risks. You are underestimating the complexity of this issue. That is just my opinion.

The OP also has to comply with RoHS and maybe others if they export.

I now understand why 75% of the EU companies can not respond within 45 days to a Article 33 inquiry, as a ECHA survey found in 2009.
 
R

RobCarl

#6
The access database is linked to our ERP system, so anytime a new part is created, it appears in the access database. This helps keep it dynamic. The list of candidate substance and their staus (banned, etc.) would also need to be updated just as regularly as the ECHA makes changes. Of course, we would include material declarations (if/as we can get them) as well as the chemical compositions. The purpose isn't to "solve" REACH problems or issues, but merely to provide objective evidence of the past and current status of our efforts.

But it really does seem to be a lot of upkeep that will be required, and I was wondering if anyone had actually used one of the mentioned (or unmentioned software packages to see if it actually saves maintenance time or if they would only save me development time. I see maintenance time saved as being a huge factor in the decision.

If it's just development time saved, it's probably better to pass on a software package and do in house developemnt, considering the fast changing nature of the environment (pun intended) of environmental compliance. That way we would not have to wait (hope?) for an update from the software vendor.

Of course, I'm also interested in hearing any stories of implementation issues, level of support, bugs, etc.

But I'm also starting to think that I'm not hearing too many stories because maybe no one (or at least very few) is/are actually using these software packages.

Headed to Chemical Watch right now. Thanks for the link.
 
R

RobCarl

#7
Collecting and verifying substance / material / article information from the supply chain is not an easy task. I do not believe a home grown Access can do the job. If you do, your company is taking huge risks. You are underestimating the complexity of this issue. That is just my opinion.

The OP also has to comply with RoHS and maybe others if they export.

I now understand why 75% of the EU companies can not respond within 45 days to a Article 33 inquiry, as a ECHA survey found in 2009.
I appreciate your perspective on the complexity of the issue, Kales. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this.

But what is it that these software packages offer to handle the complexity of the issue?

I understand something like BOMcheck, since you can leverage the efforts of others - like a team approach to data collection and storage - but it's not a comprehensive solution, and I suspect that very few of the items we source (mostly from China) would be included, at least initially. Perhaps more will over time.

And as for others, I haven't really seen anything other than what is essentially a "repackaged" database...e.g. written in SQL instead of Access, with a pretty interface, etc. Are there some solutions that provide some additional value to handle the complexity? That's what I'm looking to understand, especially since I will have to convince our capital expenditure team that there will be sufficient ROI over a homegrown solution.
 
J

Jonazzz

#8
Collecting and verifying substance / material / article information from the supply chain is not an easy task. I do not believe a home grown Access can do the job. If you do, your company is taking huge risks. You are underestimating the complexity of this issue. That is just my opinion.

The OP also has to comply with RoHS and maybe others if they export.

I now understand why 75% of the EU companies can not respond within 45 days to a Article 33 inquiry, as a ECHA survey found in 2009.
Please, do not try to convince me about how hard it is to get what you need.
I've been deeply involved into this whole topic since 4 years, and also I have read the reports on the information provided by the different companies.

Again, Access, even your suggested Ipoint are only tools,..., nothing more. They do not solve the REACH related questions just by themselves. You are dependant on the information you get from your supplier and the effort you put into it in order to validate and analyse the data. Or do you have the chicken with the golden eggs that will tell you upfront what is used?

If you would have read my first post, you might have seen, that the Access tool has grown to a full supply chain communication webbased tool that is designed on the company needs AND fully fulfills all requirements on REACH, RoHS, Packaging Directive, WEEE, Battery Directive and FCM.
So, I'm confident that our company is able to respond within 45 days with all the necessary information, backed-up by a robust base of supplier data.

Nevertheless, who are you to judge on what we have done in the past and how we will continue in the future and to draw up conclusions on this?

By the way the OP was only refering to REACH in his question, so let stick to the question and not try to get it even more complicated than it already is.

Anyhow, that is only my opinion and I guess that is exactly what the cove is about, sharing opinions and disagreements.
 
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