Seeking Advice - Effective QMS Software for Controlling Audits, Documents etc.?

S

stefanson

Joanne,

During a 4 day TL 9000 class last week I discovered Control, an Enterprise Management Process software tool. I have seen it working in a few organizations recently. You can learn about and download a free demo from this site:
*** Dead Link Removed ***
 
R

RonSmith

Hi Joanne,
I will recommend that you look into a couple of products that Omnex has. Powerway is trying to compete with them, but I am afraid these guys are professionals and are miles or ages ahead.

I was in touch with their Indian office for procurement of these softwares. Maybe you can also contact them.

Regards,
Ron Smith,
Mgmt. Rep.,
Axles Inc.
 

Marc

Fully vaccinated are you?
Leader
Just a note: RonSmith is unregistered. I don't know exactly what the occasion is, but today Ron has left 7 messages each of which has been a confirmation of omnex. I wouldn't question this particularly, but with no registration it seems like a lot of love for omnex. I do hope this is not SPAM.
 
M

Marilyn P

Marc - regarding SPAM

If it looks like a duck
Quacks like a duck
It must be a duck

Al - I tend to agree with you on this one. You can spend thousands of bucks on software packages for document control - as much as the budget will allow but in-house systems can work.

I used an on-line system for 5 years with minimal problems. All using MS Word, Excel and Access.

The master list was also set up in an Access database which was very suitable and easy to use.
 
A

Alf Gulford

For whatever it may be worth, there's a group discussion dedicated to electronic documents (geared towards FDA compliance) at www.21cfrpart11.com that was just today talking about using Access. It seems that, properly set up, it can also provide good audit trails. I've heard some concerns about security in Access but I'm already talking over my head.

Alf
 
S

Sara Lynn

Software

This may be overkill, but I have heard of many companies who try to create there own and wind up not acheiving the objective. Then you have to worry about who will be responsible for it if the creator leaves the company.

I have posted what I know about the different packages on a different forum. I have to admit, I am a bit bias. I worked for ISI for 3 years, but I found a better product in the SCIO software by PLATO-ag.

Regardless of what anyone says, I would do the following:

1. don't listent to anyone else.
2. Define your exact needs and goals you wish to accomplish with this software (maybe create a percentage scale and send out RFQ)
3. Identify a budget- Max. cost
4. Determine if you will need to purchase a server and incorporate that into the cost.
5. Request Trial versions or Demos from those companies you are interested in
6. Wether you need it or not, call for technical support. (determine the efficiency of the service and time to answer your questions)


Things the software company will need to know in order to give you an effective cost:

If licenses are concurrent user- how many people will be using the software at one time, How many facilities

If based on seats- How many people will need to have access.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.
 
B

Big-3-Hand-Puppet

Software selection Tips

Sara,

Excellent advice. Also beware of software applications that run a 3rd party database as the Core part of their program such as Access or FoxPro etc.

Anyone on the Internet can look like a “fortune 500 company”, by putting a pretty face on an Access database or FoxPro program. We found 70% of software companies out there rely on another software company for their program to work. The response time for making customizations or solving support concerns takes too long.

Look for a program that has built the software from the ground up and has an optional Support plan. To not get hooked in for a good initial price and then find you need to spend thousands every other year to get an updated version.

That's just my opinion.

Big-3-Hand-Puppet :bonk:
 
K

Ken Noll

Software Development and Support Costs

Regarding Sara Lynn's comments, steps 2 and 3 are critical. Having been on both sides of the software biz (selling and buying), companies generally have a hard time with step 2. Requirements like "Must be easy to use" does absolutely nothing for qualifying a provider. First, its suggestive and second, what software company would not say their product is easy to use.

Sara's step 3 is also critical. I would go so far as to include the yearly maintenance cost into the project budget (and incorporate it into your ROI analysis). ROI's are a MUST. Companies don't buy software like they did before Y2K. Oh, one other thing: justify the project on hard dollars, particularly how it impacts management performance metrics (on-time ship, premium freight, warrantee $). Soft savings don't work anymore.

With respect to Big-3-Hand-Puppet's comment on 3rd party software: I just have to point to the automotive industry. After all GM doesn't make every part you find on that Corvette!

I would NOT recommend software that doesn't utilize standard software components and open standards. As for database, just ask your IT department how much it costs them to support their database installation. In fact many companies have standardized on their database back end as much as they've standardized on a common desktop.

Here's an example: at a major automotive supplier, the internal cost to support a single database (one of many within an installation) is $2000 per year. So being able to leverage IT resources across multiple db's is many times cheaper than staffing up to support an entirely new database installation (worst yet a proprietary one).

In close, I'll say this. When comparing the purchase of software vs. developing it yourself, keep in mind that the cost to support the application internally is 2-3 times greater because the costs cannot be spread out over multiple customers.
 
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