As today’s information needs become more complex and more time crucial, formulators need to use every available tool to streamline their product-development process. Windows™ -based, computerized formula-management and regulatory-control software tailored to the process-manufacturing industry represents one such approach.

Advanced Software Designs, Chesterfield, MO, a developer of formulation-management software for more than 15 years, recently introduced ProductVision™ , a client-server, Windows-based formulation-management system. To give the ProductVision user even more tools to keep pace with information demands, the company has introduced a new Laboratory Analysis (LA) module, more flexible reporting options and enhancements to the Regulatory Compliance (RC) module to meet European regulations and track mailing of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).

The system includes two key modules for the paint, coatings and ink industry. The Formula Management (FM) module offers a tool for formula development, costing and analysis. It manages all raw-material information required for formula input. Input and editing in the Windows environment is simple, allowing the user to drag and drop items into the formula. The data-query function allows the user to search for raw materials and formulas meeting specific component, property or cost constraints. The Regulatory Compliance (RC) module integrates with the FM module to simplify compliance with hazard-communications regulations.

New ProductVision functionality includes a user-definable report writer, allowing the user to tailor the many standard reports provided with the system. Reports can be saved in HTML format to allow complete access of information by Intranet or Internet, facilitating exchange of information with customers or internally. Full audit logging of each change made to a formula or raw material by users addresses ISO audit requirements.

The newly introduced companion to the FM module is the Laboratory Analysis (LA) Module. The module serves as a computerized experimental notebook, allowing the formulator to capture test results of laboratory batches associated with each formula. LA data-query functionality allows the user to retrieve formulas based on these test results, expanding the existing data-query options.

The RC module, as initially introduced, offered multi-language capabilities and generated MSDSs in the U.S. ANSI format and Canadian WHMIS format. European Economic Commission countries have additional reporting requirements on their MSDSs based on the overall quantity of items of the same hazard type. This "risk and safety" phrase logic for MSDSs and labels has been added to ProductVision to enable the RC software to generate hazardous communications documents that meet regulations world-wide. A regulatory mailing option has also been added, and allows the user to track MSDSs required for each customer based on product sales and log when the MSDS was sent.

Product-development software must evolve as market demands change and new functionality must be developed to address these needs as they are defined. To ensure that the software available for the paint and coatings industry remains technologically state-of-the-art, software developers need to engage in ongoing dialog with their customers and prospects to anticipate the new requirements. Enhancements introduced for ProductVision formula development software reflect this dialog — they are designed to broaden the information base available for the formulator and provide additional tools that streamline the development process.

Written by Lynn Zwickert, Vice President, Advanced Software Designs.

Reproduced with permission of PCI.   This article can be seen in the September 1999 issue under the "Producer's Preview" section.  For subscription information, visit their web site at www.pcimag.com.