Frequently asked questions by various prospect and now customers for making their buying decision wrt SmartCalibration LIMS.
We are starting this thread of blog to share answers to the questions that many of our customers and prospect calibration labs usually ask wrt Smart Calibration LIMS. You are most welcome to share your questions on this blog which will get listed along with the other queries that we may have received or will receive as part of our interaction with Calibration Lab industry.
| Question: Can SmartCalibration do uncertainty Calculations? | |||
| Yes, SmartCalibration software do uncertainty calculations for most of the devices/instruments, user can make their spreadsheets redundant by implementing the SmartCalibration LIMS. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration calculate uncertainty at each and every calibration points? |
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| Yes, SmartCalibration by default is configured for uncertainty calculation at each and every point of calibration, however it is possible to not print these on every line in certificate, but print only the worst uncertainty in remarks section | |||
| Question: Mechanical and dimensional calibration require environment corrections, can SmartCalibration includes these corrections by itself or it requires to be calculated manually? | |||
| Yes, user can invoke functions to calculate environment corrections. |
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| Question: For thermal labs, we have CMC in mv but we need to print equivalent degree in certificates. Is it possible for SmartCalibration to convert mv to DegC but report uncertainty in relation to CMC ie. mv=>millivolt? |
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| Yes, It is possible to convert from mv to temperature °C, it for the lab users, they can define data collection form themselves and use predefined dictionary of Functions that can be used to auto-calculate data required for generation of certificate and uncertainty calculation. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration calculate uncertainty for process controller using electric amphere in result and reporting temperature in certificate? |
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| Yes, it is possible to do the above by using a predefined function. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration convert readings in ohms (resistance) to temperature °C? |
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| Yes, it is possible to do the above by using predefined functions. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration calculate uncertianty for weight, balance, force,pressure/volume and Can laboratory staff define the data collection form themselves or would they need programming knowledge and we need to demand these from SmartCalibration team? |
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| Yes, it is possible to do the above by using predefined functions. The formats for data collection can be defined by laboratory staff using the function dictionary (a compiled document of functions and required parameters are well defined for usage by layman calibration staff, for doing this user don’t require any programming knowledge. We will be happy to support lab staff in doing what they wish to achieve but if lab staff has understood how and when to use which function then SCC support may not be required at all at this stage. | |||
| Question: Does smart LIMS offer me customizable certificates? |
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| Question: Can we download certificates and change them before printing it on our stationary? |
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| Yes, Certificate can be published in PDF as well as ODT (a word compatible format). Most of these (as per our experience) can be customised as per currently used templates, however some certificates may require changes in their layout. Document published in ODT format are editable by using any word processing software whereas PDF are modifiable only if you have PDF writer software. | |||
| Question: From customer’s prespective can SmartCalibration help us in managing quotation, followup, invoicing, payment against invoice, job creation and reference equipment calibration dates, as well as customer equipment management. Printing of certificates would be a huge plus for us.
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| Yes, SmartCalibration is a unique Calibration LIMS that links technical part of the solution with the commercial part. SmartCalibration is specially designed to cater to commercial Calibration laboratories unlike other calibration management softwares which are specifically designed for manufacturing firms and qa departments. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration print UUC Labels as our customer expect these when they receive instrument/device back from us post calibration? |
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| Yes, Labels can be published through the application in PDF format and can be downloaded and printed. This may require customisation depending upon stationary and label printer one may have. | |||
| Question: Can SmartCalibration keeps the audit trails of changes in calibration results which is essential if one wish to make their lab completely paperless and to comply with ISO:17025 guidelines and to support completely paperless calibration lab? |
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| Yes, if audit setting is switched on, all previous results are kept in the trail and can be viewed on screen as well on observation form | |||
| Question: Does SmartCalibration system keep track of who has performed calibration and which user has authorised the job certificate? |
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| Yes, Calibration Engineer and Authorisation user is stored in the database and their name, designation and signature can as well be printed on certificates. | |||
| Question: Is it possible for engineers to post calibration results from customer’s site using mobile phone or tablets or ipads or laptop? |
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| Yes, SmartCalibration can be worked on using the smart phones, ipads, tabs, or laptops provided these have access to internet. | |||
| Question: Can we manage standard/references from the application, such as ,getting reminded about expiry date of standards and restricting usage of expired standard/references? |
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| Yes, It not only manage standard/references data in the database, but it also remind lab about upcoming expiry of calibration certificates of standard/references. It prohibit usage of expired standard and does not allow user to log test results accordingly. Also importantly, user can change budget associated with the standard/references without impacting calculation of previous generated certificates. | |||
| Question: Do you maintain a job history? |
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| Yes, SmartCalibration keep history of UUC once recorded, the information of UUC is reused on its repeat calibration thus reducing time required to record details of UUC. Previously generated certificate and calculation can be used to make point for drift calculation. | |||
| Question: Can Sales data from SmartCalibration be exported to accounting software such as tally/quickbooks software that we are using for our financial accounting? |
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| Yes, Data can be exported to spreadsheet/csv format through which many commercial off the shelf import utility and tally software can import sales/purchase journal or payments into its account. | |||
| Question: We are calibration as well as testing laboratory, Can we activate both from the same application? Do we get any monetory advantage from buying both services from SCC? |
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| Yes, SmartCalibration is a Modular application ie various different modules such as quotation,invoice, payment, stock keeping, Calendar management etc. can be switched on or off depending upon customer’s needs and requirements.You may get advantage on customization of documents produced by few common modules such as quotation/invoices. | |||
| Question: How much time is required to see first application generated certificate? | |||
| You can get your first published certificate within first week of starting and setting up of data. | |||
| Question: How quickly can we start using SmartCalibration?
OR Question: What is approximate time for completion of implementation? |
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| Though one can start using SmartCalibration in limited capacity from first week itself, however the complete transition from manual to LIMS based operation will be dependent upon how fast the data is setup related to the product in scope of calibration lab. It may take time in the range of 2 to 3 months for a lab to complete their scope (Mechanical, Dimension, Thermal and Electro-Technical) depending upon the number of products. | |||
| Question: How can we get assured about the data security and privacy of information stored on the database? |
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| SCC assures you of your data protection via various mechanism 1. Access to your domain is password/captcha protected. 2. Domain is accessible and protected by HTTPS protocol 3. SCC internal processes limits access of database to its restricted number of staff and that too only after following through its rigorous governance process and signoff approval.Alternatively, SCC also can connect client hosted database and can restrict access to application only through a client supplied gateway IP address. |
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| Question: If calculations or formula for calculation gets changed due to Audit observation or a new guideline as per ISO standard, what would be the charges to make these changes ? |
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| SCC works in partnership model and any change to certificate, introduction of new formula and function in data collection form is delivered at no additional cost as it is part of the usage fees. | |||
| Question: What will be the charges for changes in certificate templates that may be required due to learning or audit finding? |
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| SCC works in partnership model and any change to certificate, introduction of new formula and function in data collection form is delivered at no additional cost as part of the usage fees. However, new certificates due to addition in scope are charged separately. | |||
| Question: Do you offer smallcapcrm subscription pricing for LIMS for companies in the U.S.A.? |
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| Yes, we provide these services to every geography which is connected with the world through internet. | |||
| Question: Can you support us at our local time (New York)? |
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| Yes, we can support US based user community. | |||
| Questions: Can you provide implementation support at our Lab site? |
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| Yes, but cost of travel and lodging need to be honored by the customer. However support via internet based screen share applications and telephone, or web based phones are at no additional cost with no limit in number of hours or calls (unlike many other vendors). | |||
| Question: How much support is guaranteed in per usage fees?What if we want your team to provide us support during weekend or off hours? |
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| Support to the users via internet based screen share applications and telephone, or web based phones are at no additional cost with no limit in number of hours or calls (unlike many other vendors). Weekend support is charged on per day rate and SCC need to be informed in advance of any such necessity. | |||
| Question: Do you have support team locally around Pune? |
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| No, Unfortunately, we don’t have physical presence in Pune and for that matters in any other geography other than India Delhi/National Capital Region (Noida/Gurugram). Though we have partners in many parts of the world who can support the user community. We continue to enroll partners in the geographies where we don’t have any. Let us know if you are interested in joining us in this transformation mission. | |||
| Question: What is the cost of SmartCalibration LIMS? |
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| SmartCalibration is offered on software as service basis and can be accessed only through internet, there are few components of the cost of initial installation/configuration, customization that are dependent on scale and scope of the laboratory and service a laboratory expect from SCC during the period of implementation. Additionally, it is also dependent on service that a customer would expect from SCC such as Validation Service (providing complete paper file of validation checks using customer existing calculation and calculation via SmartCalibration LIMS). |
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| Question: Does it have a feature of reverse traceability? |
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| Yes, user can find out all the certificates or assets that have been calibrated using a particular standard or references | |||
| Question: Does it have a utility to retain previous calibration data and ability to copy previously calibrated points? |
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| Yes, data is retained in database for all the calibration and when an asset comes for re-calibration, calibration points are inherited from previous calibration where certificate has been issued. | |||
| Question: Can our customer download certificate by themselves? |
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| Yes, if lab gives a user id to the customer representative, he/she can login and view status of all work that has been given by the customer to this lab and can download certificate if desired. In addition, customer can also place order for re-calibration through their login, view or download invoices, provide feedback to the lab wrt their work. | |||
| Question: Can we activate QMS module along with the Smartcalibration? |
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| Yes, both modules can be activated on a single deployment, and interfaces are already there to link exceptions, feedback from customers |
To be continued, the list is updated regularly based on customer/prospects queries.
