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System Qualification

Our selection Criteria

Many top selling software applications will not pass our selection criteria.  Just because it is popular doesn't mean it is the best solution for your needs.

Quality Integrators Corporation has carefully refined our system design criteria over 30 years, therefore,  the application needs to meet certain requirements, and is feature rich.

Must Have:

Every solution Quality Integrators Corporation offers  has to meet the following criteria:

Configurable

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  • Configurability is a must as it allows the client to run a proven application without the need for custom code modification. The client has the flexibility to make changes to meet their unique requirements, while ensuring standard code, data security and future supportability is maintained. 

  • We've seen many organizations make an application adapt for them only to find that the next release had that functionality! If only they had stayed standard and avoided significant effort to modify the application.  This can cost millions of dollars and years of time to recover.

Scaleable

  • Scalability - from single user to Enterprise wide; on any device and the Cloud. Many of our customers have started with a single user trial and later expanded into multi-plant implementations.

  • Where it makes sense, our applications are available on phones, tablets, computers and networks.  They can be hosted locally, on a private cloud, or in "the" cloud.  You can grow from a single user, to a huge network of users; and start with one module, adding more functionality as you need it.

No Modification


No Changes
  • Do I buy a ready-made solution that works and adapt my business processes to it?  Or do I get something built custom for me?  A common approach is to to buy and customize - the best of both worlds, NOT.  Once you've changed code, you can no longer benefit from improvements or upgrades that the vendor adds every upgrade cycle.

  • QIC recommends using a solution that is packaged, proven and has many configuration options which allows for customization.  Many application features and changes are derived from client feedback, and if added to future releases, all customers benefit.  This way a client is never orphaned by the software publisher as they have not altered the base code.

  • While we never change application code, it is possible to provide front or back end custom solutions that do not affect the base program.  This might include creating custom data collection screens or reports, however, our solutions are typically so feature rich that extra customization is rarely necessary.

Platform Independent

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  • Many applications are completely tied to a particular hardware or infrastructure environment.  Some will only work on AS400, some on Windows or Mac.  The applications we offer are largely platform independent.   

  • The primary user interface is a browser, so whatever is used to get to the internet is what's needed to run the application.  This allows you to use the appropriate hardware for each location or user - whether that be a smart phone, tablet, net book, or computer.

Incorporates Standards

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  • There is a reason standards exist - to ensure compatibility, maintain consistency, and drive  compliance. 

  • To ensure viability, all of the applications we offer comply with applicable standards for that application and/or industry.  Whether they be IT related - OPC, ODBC, OLE, API interfaces, Navigation, ...; Industry - GMP, , ...; regulatory - CFIA, WMC, 21 CFR xx, FSMA, HACCP, OSHA, FSIS,  NIST 133, FDA, USDA, NMFS ...;  Association driven - ANSI, ISO, GFSI, BRC, NSF...
  • Compliant applications are not only more "audit-proof", they are also easier to integrate into a cohesive enterprise solution that will stand the test of time.

Seamless Integration

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  • Some applications prevent other applications from talking to them usually because they portend to offer every solution you could possibly want.  There is a balance between "all-in-one " and "best-of-breed" solutions, therefore,  it is unlikely that a system supplier can offer a highly robust application in every possible area that a customer needs.  Just like you wouldn't go to a heart surgeon for treatment of depression, so you typically don't look to an ERP vendor for a document management solution!  
     
  • All of our solutions "know their place" and are designed to work seamlessly with other applications outside of their realm - such as your ERP, SCADA, or other desktop products.

Well Documented

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  • A current trend with "apps" is that no or minimal documentation or telephone support is readily available.  This may be fine for supporting a mobile phone, however, shop floor personnel need more than a bot response, being referred to a FAQ document or waiting endlessly for email or telephone support to handle mission critical operational challenges.  

  • QIC clients get interactive help; quick start guides; and step-by-step execution documents to support their efforts.  If the people feeding the system don't know how to collect data accurately, the metrics obtained won't be of much use!

Intuitive Navigation

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  • Specialized applications will never be quite as intuitive as something like Microsoft Office, unless they are very simple, "single use".  It is important that the application adhere to Microsoft standards with regards to mouse clicks, hot keys, cut and paste, browser navigation, etc.  

  • QIC looks to ensure that applications we recommend are consistent throughout.  While we see a consolidation in the software business (like ERP vendors buying MES vendors to offer a more complete solution), it is often years before the accounting and operations modules share any common look, feel, or even terminology.  This can be very frustrating for users.  We ensure that within any application, there is a level of consistency to avoid such frustrations.

Internationally Capable

  • Many of our solutions come from reputable developers around the globe.  Whereas some popular North American applications may only recognize English and French, or English and Spanish, it is not unusual for a European application to recognize that its users may speak and work in several different languages.

  • Many applications we support are designed from the ground up to accommodate multi-lingual, multi-currency, and multi-measurement units scenarios, rather than as a retrofit. These solutions are well suited for companies supporting several facilities and operations in multiple countries. 

 

Supported PROPERLY

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  • We provide first line support for every product we install with knowledgeable people located in North America.  Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get a relatively simple question answered and finding that the software company's website doesn't even offer 1-800 support. Chat bots are inadequate, and waiting endlessly on hold for scripted (Level 1) telephone support does not align to your business needs.

  • Our suppliers have experts we can talk to who know their solutions and can answer questions correctly. QIC can also act as a single point of contact, when needed, to bridge the gap in critical situations. All of our people have practical real-world experience from multiple customer sites, so we bring a well rounded perspective.