Quality managers often rely on tools such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and Excel to manage their processes.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that these solutions are limited and do not meet the sector's growing needs.
Excel
75% of companies manage their quality control with Excel files.
While we have been developing CIKLab for 2 years, we realize by talking with manufacturers that ¾ of the companies use Excel as their quality control software.
They use it to organize their control plans, specification sheets, analysis result histories and edit certificates of analysis (CoA). They also keep track of ongoing analyses, quotes and laboratory services.
Indeed, it is surprising that today, a department as critical as the quality control of an industrial company can still use Excel. There must be something else than CIKLab…
When we present CIKLab, we often hear from our prospects :
"It's not possible, I don't believe you"
“We need to be able to integrate that into the ERP and that would be very powerful.”
Directly release batches from inventory based on all quality parameters. Manage all subcontracted analysis. Edit specific CoAs according to customer requirements. Consult the results history. And so on.
Indeed, some ERPs offer a standard quality module to control a few liberating parameters, often on line control. But they are rather succinct and not adapted to the control organization of the companies.
So, to develop a custom quality module, okay, but…
- All this has a cost
- All this is not very practical
- You can’t do everything (or, it has a cost and it’s not practical).
When you have to choose between Excel or the quality module of your ERP as a quality control or laboratory management software, your heart sways. The reason is to lean towards ERP, for the security of the data and the robustness of the processes. But for the adaptability, the ergonomics, the suitability to the needs and the cost, Excel scores points and still has advantages.
Especially since, despite the ERP quality module, you will continue to use Excel files for periodic analyses, subcontracted laboratories, follow-up of subcontracted analyses, etc.
Use software for what it is and what it does
Excel for spreadsheets and data processing.
ERP for production and inventory management.
ERP or Excel are therefore not the optimal tools.
What about my quality control management software?
Choose a tool that corresponds to your daily life and that you will use easily, and even, let’s not be afraid to say it, with pleasure!
Choose a software specifically dedicated to quality control management.
Having a software dedicated to quality control management has many advantages.
Excel is not a software or a database. You need to secure your data, automate processes to :
- Limit data entry,
- Avoid wasting time
- Avoid errors.
Computer development is exponential in time and cost. With each new function you have to check the interactions with the previous functions and modify the software.
Of course, if you limit the software to one function, there are less interactions and therefore the software is easier to develop. By being specialized on one function, the quality control management software is more adapted to your needs with a better ergonomy than an ERP or Excel.
In short, don’t waste any more time and come try CIKLab.
